Suspect Was Reportedly Wearing Top With Iranian Flag Design
Almost 24 hours after President Donald Trump‘s Feb. 28 announcement that the United States was conducting military action against Iran, there was an incident in downtown Austin, Texas, that is presently being investigated as a possible act of terrorism.
Around 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 1, at Sixth Street of downtown Austin, Texas, 14 people were injured and two others were killed when a man reportedly drove up to a crowded bar and opened fire.
During a news conference on March 2, the identities of the two deceased victims were released: Ryder Harrington, 19; and Savitha Shan, 21.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Harrington was a student at Texas Tech University student, and Shan was a “dual-degree senior at the University of Texas majoring in management information systems and Economics, according to her LinkedIn.”
A candlelight vigil for Harrington has been planned by his fraternity to occur at 8 p.m. on March 2.
The suspect, identified by Austin Police Department (APD) as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, reportedly opened fire on Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden. From there, he then parked his car, got out with a rifle, and began firing at pedestrians.
Within one minute of 911 being called, Diagne was killed by APD, with APD Chief Lisa Davis saying, as quoted by CNN, “Our suspect was coming toward East Austin or East Sixth Street, officers were coming toward him, and at the intersection, he was shot and he was killed.”
A photo of Diagne carrying a rifle and wearing a sweatshirt that reads “Property of Allah” has been circulating online, and the Associated Press notes that he was reportedly wearing a shirt emblazoned with the Iranian flag underneath the sweatshirt.
This incident is still under investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the APD, with APD Chief Davis saying during a Monday, March 2, press conference that the crime scene is “complex and very large.”
Further, she stated:
“We are working in tandem with the FBI, conducting numerous interviews and gathering evidence. If you can imagine, we have over 150 witnesses to this event … and we are also investigating an officer-involved shooting.”
Link To Terrorism Remains Under Investigation
During a news conference on March 1, FBI Agent In Charge Alex Doran stated, “There were indicators that — on the subject and in his vehicle — that indicate potential nexus to terrorism. Again, it is still too early to make a determination on that.”
Watch Doran’s full statement on the potential link to terrorism, here:
By Thursday, APD Chief Davis anticipates releasing bodycam footage of APD’s response to this incident, including more information on the suspect, Diagne.
While APD and the FBI do not yet have answers on a motive for the attack, or a conclusive verdict on the shooting being connected to terrorism, APD Chief Davis did note that Diagne’s guns were legally acquired in 2017.
Watch the March 2 press conference, including comment from the Austin Police Department, the FBI, and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, here:
