AUSTIN, Texas — A newly filed lawsuit is shedding more light on an alleged assault last December involving Ndiaga Diagne, the man accused in last week’s Sixth Street shooting in Austin.
Bob Hilliard, an injury attorney representing 65-year-old Lillian Brady, said Brady was walking into work at Tesla’s Gigafactory in December when she saw Diagne praying on the ground. Hilliard said Brady tried to walk around him, and Diagne attacked her.
“The guy jumped up and threw her to the ground, suddenly, unexpectedly, injuring her back, her neck,” Hilliard said.
Hilliard said Brady was unable to work for more than six weeks and now has permanent back and neck injuries.
According to the lawsuit, Diagne was employed by Tesla. Hilliard said Brady tried to report the alleged assault to police, but Tesla refused to provide Diagne’s name.
Hilliard also criticized Tesla’s handling of the incident, saying, “Tesla told her this wasn’t a work-related injury. I guess that employees who violently assault other employees on the job site, that doesn’t qualify in Tesla’s mind.”
After Diagne’s name surfaced in connection with last week’s Sixth Street shooting, Brady filed suit against Tesla, alleging the company failed to provide a safe workplace.
Hilliard questioned whether earlier cooperation could have changed what happened later.
“So, would he have even been free the night of the shooting to do what he did? It’s head-scratching,” he said.
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Hilliard said Brady believes that if Tesla had cooperated sooner, it could have helped prevent further violence.
“Ms. Brady also feels that had they cooperated with her, she could have helped make sure that those kids were alive today,” he said.
The lawsuit developments come as the FBI investigates a potential nexus to terrorism in the Sixth Street shooting, which killed three victims months after the alleged assault.
Diagne was reported to be wearing a shirt with an Iranian flag under a hoodie that said “Property of Allah.” The FBI has not confirmed any relationship between Iran and Diagne. Some Iranians in Austin said Diagne does not represent them.
“He was a Muslim from Senegal, definitely funded by the IRGC terrorist regime, not by Iranians,” said Mylad Mahdavi, who lives in Austin.
Hilliard said part of the lawsuit’s goal is to uncover what Tesla knew about Diagne before he was hired, and he said violence like this can escalate over time.
Tesla was contacted for comment but did not respond.