Authorities in Austin, Texas, recovered an Iranian flag and photographs of regime leaders from the apartment of a man accused of opening fire outside a bar early Sunday morning. The search was conducted after the shooting that left three people dead and 14 wounded, according to CBS News.
The suspect, identified as Ndiaga Diagne, was reportedly wearing a sweatshirt that read “Property of Allah” and an undershirt featuring an Iranian flag during the attack, law enforcement sources said. Diagne, 53, is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Senegal who lived in Pflugerville, Texas, multiple federal law enforcement agencies told Fox News.
Diagne first entered the United States in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa. He became a lawful permanent resident in 2006 after marrying a U.S. citizen and was naturalized in 2013. His criminal record includes a 2022 arrest in Texas for a collision with vehicle damage, authorities said.
The shooting occurred outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden along Sixth Street, near the University of Texas at Austin, shortly before 2 a.m. Police Chief Lisa Davis said the gunman initially fired from his car, striking patrons on the patio and in front of the bar. He then drove to nearby Wood Street, parked, exited his vehicle with a rifle, and continued shooting at pedestrians but did not enter the bar itself.
The suspect was shot and killed by police. Authorities recovered both a pistol and a rifle used during the incident. University President Jim Davis expressed condolences and gratitude to first responders and support staff, saying the university was deeply saddened by the tragedy.
The FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism. Acting special agent in charge Alex Dorn said there were indicators linking the suspect and his vehicle to possible terrorist motives, though authorities are still determining the exact motivation. Dorn noted that the Joint Terrorism Task Force is involved in the investigation, which remains ongoing.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
