Details continue to emerge on Sunday’s mass shooting on West Sixth Street. Yesterday, Austin Police released body worn camera footage and other investigation materials on the incident, which left more than a dozen injured and three people dead.
The shooting took place at the popular downtown bar Buford’s early Sunday morning, and the suspect, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was shot and killed by APD officers. The department explained in a Thursday press release that it is investigating the shooting as any other critical incident.
According to the preliminary investigation, APD responded to multiple calls around 1:58 a.m. reporting a shooting at Buford’s. Officers and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services arrived on-scene less than a minute later and located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
The investigation revealed that a black Cadillac SUV was traveling southbound on Rio Grande Street when it pulled up alongside Buford’s and the driver, later identified as Diagne, started firing a pistol into the crowd outside of the bar.
Several individuals were struck in the initial gunfire. Diagne continued driving westbound on West 6th and parked near the intersection of West 6th and Wood streets.
The driver then exited the vehicle armed with a rifle, and fired at a nearby pedestrian, striking them, and then headed back towards the bar area. As officers arrived on-scene, they were directed to the suspect’s location and worked to move bystanders and establish a secure perimeter.
“At 2:03 a.m., three officers located the suspect near the intersection of West 6th Street and West Avenue,” the press release states. “They observed the suspect carrying a rifle. The suspect discharged his firearm in the direction of officers. The three officers discharged their firearms at the suspect, striking him multiple times.”
The press release continues, “Officers approached the suspect, took him into custody, and requested medical assistance. The suspect was later pronounced deceased on the scene.”
A total of 19 people, including the shooter, were injured in the event. The two victims pronounced dead at the scene were identified as 21-year-old Savitha Shan and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington. Another 16 people were treated at local hospitals for gunshot wounds.
On Monday, a third victim, 30-year-old Jorge Pederson, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Two victims remain hospitalized, with one being in critical condition.
The three officers involved in the shooting have not yet been named but are on administrative leave. On Wednesday, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza declined to bring criminal charges against the officers.