An Iranian flag and photos of regime leaders were found inside the Austin gunman’s apartment after he killed three people and wounded 14 in a Sixth Street rampage, authorities revealed.
Police identified the suspect as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Senegal and lived in Pflugerville, Texas.
Federal law enforcement sources said he carried out the attack early Sunday morning outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in downtown Austin.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Diagne’s residence and recovered an Iranian flag along with images of Iranian regime figures, according to law enforcement sources cited by CBS News. Authorities also located a Quran inside his vehicle.
Law enforcement sources said Diagne wore a sweatshirt that read “Property of Allah” and an undershirt displaying an Iranian flag during the attack.
The shooting erupted shortly before 2 a.m. along Sixth Street, a nightlife corridor packed with bars and music venues near the University of Texas at Austin.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis described the scene during a press briefing. The gunman “put his flashers on, rolled down his window and began using a pistol shooting out of his car windows, striking patrons of the bar that were on the patio and that were in front of the Bar,” Davis said.
Authorities said Diagne then drove west on Sixth Street to Wood Street, parked his vehicle, stepped out armed with a rifle and continued firing at pedestrians. He never entered the bar.
Officers who had been staged nearby for weekend crowds responded in about “55-56 seconds,” Davis noted. Police shot and killed Diagne at an intersection before he could flee.
The FBI confirmed the massacre is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism.
“Obviously, 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,” Alex Dorn, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office, told reporters Sunday.
“Again, it’s still too early to make a determination on that. That’s why we are investigating it very closely with our partners with Austin police department,” Dorn added.
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When pressed about whether the case involved domestic or international terrorism, Dorn confirmed the Joint Terrorism Task Force is engaged.
“We’re just at this point prepared to say that it was potentially an act of terrorism,” he said.
The bloodshed unfolded just 24 hours after the United States and Israel launched strikes aimed at stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and limiting its missile program.
Iranian leaders have reported that more than 200 people were killed in those strikes, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders.
Federal sources told CBS News that Diagne had a history of mental health episodes in Austin. His prior criminal record in Texas includes a 2022 arrest involving a collision that caused vehicle damage.
Diagne entered the United States in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa. He later became a lawful permanent resident after marrying a U.S. citizen and was naturalized in 2013.
University of Texas President Jim Davis confirmed that UT students were among those impacted by the attack.
“Today is a difficult day for our city and the University. We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred early this morning in downtown Austin,” he wrote. “Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted, including members of our Longhorn family, and my heart goes out to their families, friends, classmates, professors, and loved ones.
“I want to express my gratitude to the first responders and medical teams whose actions helped protect and save lives.” the statement continued.
“I also want to thank the dedicated counselors and staff members in our Dean of Students Office who have been communicating with families and students, visiting those injured in hospitals, and providing care and support throughout the day.”
The university announced that campus police are increasing patrols across campus and in the West Campus neighborhood. Officials stated there is no active threat to campus but said officers will remain available around the clock.
Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old senior, had been inside the bar earlier that night.
The venue was “full of college students, probably mostly UT kids, shoulder to shoulder, hundreds just enjoying their nights,” Comeaux recalled.
Comeaux left about 10 minutes before the first shots rang out to grab pizza from a food truck across the street. He said many people near the truck initially mistook the noise for fireworks or a motorcycle.
“The UT community has definitely been majorly affected by this,” he said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott addressed the attack in a statement to CBS. “Texas mourns with the families and loved ones of those who were horrifically killed in last night’s attack in Austin. Cecilia and I pray for them, and we pray for the swift recovery of those who were injured.”
“This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans,” he continued.
“To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump has been briefed.
“Today, President Trump has spoken with the leaders of Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE. The President has also been briefed on the shooting in Austin, Texas,” Leavitt wrote on X.
Following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the strikes on Saturday, Iranian officials vowed to seek revenge against the United States.
