Austin Bar Shooting Suspect's Apartment Contained Iranian Symbols, FBI Probes Terrorism Links
Federal and local investigators are scrutinizing potential terrorism links in the deadly early Sunday shooting outside a popular Austin bar, after evidence recovered from the suspect's apartment and vehicle included an Iranian flag and pictures of Iranian leaders, multiple law enforcement sources told Fox News.
The gunman, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, opened fire on patrons outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden around 2 a.m. Diagne, who was killed during the incident, wore a sweatshirt inscribed with "Property of Allah" and an undershirt bearing an Iranian flag during the attack, sources said. A Quran was also found in his vehicle.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis described a chaotic scene where Diagne activated his hazard lights, lowered his car window, and began firing a pistol at people on the patio and in front of the bar before exiting his vehicle to continue shooting. He did not enter the establishment.
"At this stage, it is premature to definitively determine motivation," stated FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran during a Sunday press conference. "However, items recovered from the subject and his vehicle indicate a potential nexus to terrorism that we are actively investigating."
The victims have been identified as Savitha Shan, 21, and Ryder Harrington, 19. Fourteen others sustained injuries.
Diagne's background reveals a history of minor offenses. He entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2000, later obtaining lawful permanent resident status through marriage. His record includes a 2001 arrest in New York City for illegal vending and a sealed arrest history between 2001 and 2016. In 2016, he was sued after allegedly hitting a pedestrian with his car, causing what the victim described as severe and permanent injuries. A 2022 Texas arrest for collision with vehicle damage is also on record.
Authorities confirmed the firearm used in the attack was legally purchased by Diagne in San Antonio.
Retired FBI Supervisory Agent James Gagliano, formerly with the bureau's counterterror unit, analyzed the indicators. "This incident bears the hallmarks of a terrorist attack," Gagliano said. "The presentation—the symbols, the targeting of a crowded social venue—suggests a lone wolf actor, likely inspired or aspirational in nature."
Voices from the Community:
Marcus Chen, 42, local restaurant owner: "This is heartbreaking for Austin. We're a tight-knit community. The immediate question on everyone's mind is 'why?'—was this a targeted act of hate or something broader? We need answers, but more than that, we need support for the victims' families."
Dr. Aliyah Vance, 38, political science professor at UT Austin: "While the investigation is ongoing, the presence of specific national symbols is highly notable. It forces a difficult but necessary examination of how global tensions and ideologies can manifest in localized, violent acts, even when no direct foreign command structure is involved."
Derek Holt, 55, security consultant and former Marine: "This is a systemic failure, plain and simple. A rap sheet dating back 20 years, a prior hit-and-run lawsuit, and he still legally purchased a firearm? The terrorism angle is being probed, but we also have to look at the glaring cracks in our own background check and monitoring systems that allowed a potentially radicalized individual with a history to arm himself."
Priya Sharma, 29, graduate student and friend of victim Savitha Shan: "She was just starting her life. To reduce her death to a 'potential nexus' or a political discussion is infuriating. Real people are gone. We're tired of 'lone wolf' being a label that somehow diffuses responsibility. Someone is responsible for the ideas that fueled this, and someone is responsible for the gun being in his hands."