The FBI said that it is investigating the shooting as a potential act of terrorism
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Ndiaga Diagne.Credit : Austin Police
The gunman who allegedly killed two people and injured multiple others at a bar in Texas on Sunday, March 1, has been identified.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the suspect in the mass shooting at Buford’s bar on West 6th Street in Austin as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, according to the Associated Press. The Austin Police Department (APD) also identified Diagne as the suspect.
A law enforcement official told AP that the suspect, who was killed by police, was allegedly wearing a sweatshirt that said “Property of Allah” and a shirt with an Iranian flag design.
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APD Chief Lisa Davis confirmed earlier in the day that an unidentified “male suspect” in the shooting was shot dead by police. No other suspects have been mentioned.
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The APD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The suspect was originally from Senegal, sources told AP.
DHS added, per the outlet, that the suspect entered the U.S in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa, and after marrying a U.S. citizen, Diagne became a lawful permanent resident six years later.
In 2013, Diagne became a naturalized U.S. citizen, DHS continued.
The shooting happened one day after the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The FBI said in a March 1 press conference that it is investigating the Austin shooting as a potential act of terrorism.
“It’s still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” said Alex Dorn, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office.
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The FBI at the scene of a mass shooting in Austin, Texas, on March 1, 2026.
Brandon Bell/Getty
Robert Luckritz, chief of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, gave insight into the victims of the shooting during a press conference.
“We received the call at 1:59 a.m. and within 57 seconds, the first paramedics and officers were on scene actively treating the patients,” Luckritz said. “We had a total of 17 patients on the scene, 14 of whom were transported to the hospital.”
He later added, “All total, we had more than 20 EMS resources that responded to the scene. We had all critical patients off the scene within 24 minutes, and all patients off the scene within 47 minutes,” he said.
Three of the surviving victims are in critical condition.
The APD advised people to “avoid the area” amid the incident in a statement on X.
An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
