In 2022, a state civil court judge in Bexar County found that Ndiaga Diagne had a “history or pattern of committing family violence” and granted his ex-wife sole custody of their two young sons. Diagne was granted supervised visitation, according to court records obtained by the American-Statesman.

The finding came as part of divorce proceedings initiated by Diagne’s ex-wife, Aissatou Savare, in March 2022. The divorce was finalized by default in September of that year after Diagne failed to appear at a scheduled hearing.

In her petition, Savare accused Diagne of “cruel treatment.” The court ultimately awarded her sole managing conservatorship of the couple’s children.

Diagne represented himself in the case and filed a handwritten response rejecting the allegations as “outrageous” and accusing Savare of lying and hiding their sons from him.

“I totally disagree and quite frankly feel insulted by the many false statements in the filing,” Diagne wrote.

A neighbor who lives at the Eastridge Apartments in Southeast Travis County, where authorities believe Diagne had been residing, said Diagne had spoken about his family situation in recent weeks.

The neighbor, who requested anonymity because he works for the federal government, said Diagne told him that his wife had left him “a while ago” and taken their two children.

“He said ‘I don’t have an anchor here anymore,’” the neighbor recalled. “His family situation was hitting him hard.”

The neighbor said Diagne described feeling untethered and spoke about possibly relocating to San Antonio to live temporarily with his sister. According to the neighbor, Diagne said he was looking to buy a home in Pflugerville and considering his next steps.

The neighbor said their conversations typically occurred in passing as they came and went from their apartments. He described Diagne as friendly and polite and said he did not appear outwardly volatile.

“It was a shock,” the neighbor said of learning Diagne is accused in the deadly shooting. “I never would have assumed this.”

Staff writer Paul Flahive contributed reporting