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The man suspected of killing two people and injuring 14 others outside of a bar in Austin, Texas, early Sunday morning has been identified by police as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne. While the motivation for the shooting is still under investigation, sources are saying that Diagne, who was killed by police on-site near Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, originally entered the United States on a tourist visa.
A Department of Homeland Security official confirmed via CNN that Diagne originally entered the country in 2000 on a B‑2 tourist visa. First landing in New York, Diagne eventually made his way to the Lone Star State. In 2006, Diagne married a U.S. citizen and attained lawful permanent resident status. Then, in 2013, Diagne was naturalized as a U.S. citizen.
Police Are Looking Into A “Potential Nexus To Terrorism” As Shooter’s Motivation
While details of the Sunday shooting are still unfolding, reports about the shooter’s attire claim he was wearing a hoodie with the words “Property of Allah” printed across the chest and an Iranian flag-themed t-shirt underneath.
Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio division, said it’s still too early to nail down a motivation, but they are looking into a “potential nexus to terrorism” based on the clothing and other indicators on the vehicle.
The National Counterterrorism Center is working together with FBI agents and local law enforcement to determine whether ties to terrorism are to blame here. Following the shooting, Diagne was killed by police officers.
“Our suspect was coming toward East Austin or East Sixth Street, officers were coming toward him, and at the intersection, he was shot, and he was killed,” police chief Lisa Davis explained.
Diagne had allegedly suffered from mental health issues prior to the shooting. He was also previously arrested in Texas for a collision with vehicle damage, a misdemeanor charge. Fox News also reports that Diagne was arrested during his time in New York for illegal vending.
What Is Known About The Texas Bar Shooting Victims So Far
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While the official names and ages of the two dead and 14 injured victims of the bar shooting have not been revealed, some of them may have been students of the University of Texas (UT).
Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden is well-known for its college crowds and is frequented by UT students. A statement released by UT Austin President Jim Davis confirms that the victims included “members of our Longhorn family.” Whether these were students or staff members is yet to be revealed.
What Is and Is Not Allowed With A Tourist Visa In The U.S.
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Tourist visas are given to people “who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1 visa), for tourism (B-2 visa), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2 visa).” In Diagne’s case, he attained a B-2 visa for tourism purposes. Activities permitted with this type of tourist visa include the following:
Visit with friends or relatives
Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)
Activities not permitted include:
Paid performances, or any professional performance before a paying audience
Arrival as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft
Work as foreign press, in radio, film, print journalism, or other information media
Permanent residence in the United States
Recently, applying for a B-2 visa became a little more difficult for some after the U.S. State Department quietly implemented a $15,000 fee for tourists from several countries.