AUSTIN, Texas — A gunman opened fire outside a packed West Sixth Street bar, killing two people and injuring 14 others before Austin police shot and killed him, authorities said, March 1, 2026. The FBI said it is treating the case as a potential act of terrorism as investigators sift through evidence found on the suspect and inside his vehicle.
Police identified the suspect as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, and said officers confronted him within about a minute of the first 911 call as bars were closing for the night. Three wounded people remained in critical condition later Sunday, according to officials.
What we know about the Austin bar shooting
The shooting unfolded shortly before 2 a.m. outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin’s entertainment corridor, where crowds often spill onto sidewalks and patios. Investigators said the gunman fired from his SUV and then continued shooting on foot with multiple weapons before officers stopped him.
Federal officials have not publicly described a definitive motive. But law enforcement sources told national outlets that Diagne’s clothing and items recovered during the initial response raised red flags that prompted a deeper review by federal counterterrorism teams. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is assisting local authorities as they examine whether the attack was inspired by international events or extremist ideology — or whether the indicators ultimately prove unrelated to terrorism.
Key details and early investigative threads have been reported by The Associated Press, The Texas Tribune, CBS News, The Washington Post and Axios.
Victims and injuries
Authorities said two people were killed at the scene and 14 others were transported for treatment. Officials have not released the victims’ names, pending family notifications. Police urged anyone who was in the area and captured video to share it with investigators, and asked witnesses to avoid posting unverified rumors that could complicate the case.
Why the FBI is involved
The FBI typically joins local investigations when there is evidence or credible suspicion that an attack may have been politically, ideologically or religiously motivated — or when it appears intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population. In this case, officials said indicators tied to the suspect and his vehicle warranted a federal terrorism review, even as detectives continue to evaluate other possibilities, including personal grievances and mental health factors.
Texas officials also said they were monitoring threats and copycat risks, especially with large events and crowded nightlife corridors that can be vulnerable to mass-casualty attacks.
How police response shaped the outcome
Austin police credited a rapid response — with officers already staged nearby as part of routine weekend patrols — for limiting additional bloodshed. Investigators said the gunman was still actively armed when officers confronted him and returned fire. Authorities said no additional suspects have been identified and there is no ongoing threat tied to the immediate scene, though the investigation remains active.
West Sixth Street has faced violence before
The March 2026 attack revived memories of earlier shootings in and around Austin’s nightlife districts. In June 2021, a downtown Austin shooting along Sixth Street wounded 14 people and later led to a death, spurring renewed debate about crowd control and patrol strategies in the corridor, according to an earlier AP report on the arrests and KUT’s coverage of the victim who died.
City leaders have also weighed structural safety changes — from street closures and traffic patterns to policing and EMS staging — as part of broader efforts to reduce violence in nightlife hotspots. An Austin Monitor analysis from 2025 examined early public safety data tied to Sixth Street policy shifts, reflecting how the city has repeatedly revisited its approach to managing crowds and late-night risks.
What happens next
Investigators are expected to focus on several parallel tracks in the coming days:
- Digital footprint and communications: Reviewing social media posts, messages and search history for intent, ideology or target selection.
- Weapons and logistics: Tracing firearms used in the attack and examining how the suspect acquired and transported them.
- Timeline reconstruction: Mapping movements before the shooting, including surveillance video, license-plate data and witness statements.
- Potential associates: Determining whether anyone encouraged, assisted or had advance knowledge — even if the suspect acted alone.
Officials said the terrorism assessment does not automatically mean the suspect had ties to an organized group, and that the label will depend on evidence of intent and motive. In the meantime, the FBI and Austin police asked the public to be cautious with speculation as they work to verify facts and notify victims’ families.
