AUSTIN, Texas — A West Sixth Street bar where a deadly mass shooting unfolded last weekend reopened Friday night, with its owner pledging to donate all proceeds from the weekend to those most affected.
Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden welcomed patrons back less than a week after a gunman opened fire, killing three people and injuring more than a dozen others.
Owner Bob Woody said the past several days have been difficult for staff and the community.
“We don’t have this kind of stuff in Austin, not to this horrific extent,” Woody said. “It’s a sad day when something like that takes place.”
The bar says it will donate 100% of its proceeds through Sunday to the victims and families most impacted by the tragedy.
Some customers who came out on Friday said they wanted to show support.
“It was a very terrible tragedy, but I’m glad that they can bounce back and not be brought down by this terrible thing,” said Raymond Assed.
Others said they hoped simply being there would help the business and the community move forward.
“It was tragic what happened here,” said Charlie Skoog. “We just wanted to really do our part and just kind of help these guys out.”
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Tammy Heemstra echoed that sentiment, saying the community remains resilient.
“Most people, we’re Austin, we’re going to hold together,” she said.
Skoog said the bar’s plan to donate its weekend sales also played a role in his decision to come out.
“Part of the reason why we decided to come out here was that they had decided to do that,” he said.
Woody said employees spent days supporting one another before deciding whether to reopen.
“We’ve already been through a lot of grief,” he said.
When asked whether staff members were still processing the trauma from the shooting, Woody said most indicated they felt ready to return.
“Well, when I asked who all is ready, I’m just gonna take a straw pole, and it looked to me in the crowd everybody raised their hand,” Woody said. “We had one person say, I’m not ready yet, and I said that’s okay.”
Meanwhile, new details are emerging about the suspect in the shooting, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne.
A lawsuit filed Thursday accuses Diagne of assaulting a 65-year-old woman at a Tesla facility in Austin three months ago. The suit alleges the attack occurred during an approved prayer break in a common area and claims the company was negligent, arguing Tesla knew or should have known about Diagne’s alleged aggressive tendencies and failed to properly supervise the area.
The FBI says it is continuing to review evidence and interview witnesses as the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
Woody said he has also been working with city officials and law enforcement to ensure a safe reopening. Rio Grande Street near West Sixth Street will be closed to through traffic overnight, and police presence in the area is being increased.
For many who gathered at the bar on Friday, the goal was to stand with the victims and show the community’s resilience.
“I think just coming out and supporting like this and showing that we’re not afraid is how we move forward,” Skoog said.