AUSTIN, Texas – Three people are dead, including a shooting suspect, and 14 were hospitalized after a mass shooting in downtown Austin, according to local officials who held a news conference early Sunday morning.
Austin EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said paramedics and police officers arrived to the shooting scene and began treating patients 57 seconds after receiving a call around 1:59 a.m. in front of Buford’s bar on West 6 Street.
The Associated Press reported Sunday afternoon that the shooter was identified as 53‑year‑old Ndiaga Diagne, citing a law enforcement official and another person familiar with the case.
Diagne, originally from Senegal, came to the U.S. in 2006 and was a naturalized U.S. citizen, the AP said.
In a 9:30 a.m. press conference update, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said a large SUV repeatedly drove around the block near Buford’s bar.
At some point, Diagne allegedly put his flashers on, rolled down his window and began firing using a pistol from the vehicle. Diagne struck patrons on the patio and in front of the bar, Davis said.
Davis said Diagne then proceeded westbound on 6th Street to Wood Street, where Diagne parked, exited the vehicle and opened fire with a rifle at people walking by.
Diagne did not enter the bar, Davis said.
Davis said officers who were on East 6th Street quickly transitioned to West 6th, where they confronted Diagne. Three officers returned fire, killing Diagne, Davis said.
Luckritz said three people, including the shooter, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Fourteen patients, 3 of whom were in critical condition, were transported to local hospitals, Luckritz said. He said there was a total of 17 patients at the scene.
Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI San Antonio Field Office, said that while the investigation remains ongoing, there were indicators on the suspect and the vehicle suggesting a “potential nexus to terrorism.”
“In terms of specifically what type of terrorism, we’re just at this point prepared to say that it was potentially an act of terrorism,” Doran said.
Davis said once the Diagne’s vehicle was identified, authorities searched it for bomb materials and quickly cleared it, finding no explosives.
Davis said federal partners are assisting in the investigation, and the scene will take several hours to process.
South Blood Texas Blood & Tissue officials said 20 units of O‑negative blood were sent to Austin overnight and the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC) was activated.
An additional 140 units, including O‑negative and O‑positive, were dispatched from other blood centers.
People who are searching for loved ones are asked to call the Austin Police Department Victim Services Unit at 512-974-5037.
Anyone with photos, video or information related to this case is asked to contact the Austin Police Department.
More briefings are expected to be held to update the public on this investigation, local officials said.
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