Austin Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, FBI Eyes Terrorism

A shooting in downtown Austin, Texas, left three people dead and 14 others wounded early Sunday. The FBI says it’s ‘potentially an act of terrorism.’ The suspect, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was a naturalized US citizen born in Senegal. He wore a sweatshirt with ‘Allah’ on it and had an Iranian flag on his undershirt.

Suspect’s Motive Still Unclear

It’s still too early to determine the suspect’s motive, but there were ‘indicators’ on him and in his vehicle that suggest a possible link to terrorism, according to Alex Dorn, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. Diagne may have acted alone, and mental illness is also being looked at.

The search for answers will include looking at Diagne’s digital footprint, including his devices, social media accounts, and communications. The FBI will also interview associates, family, neighbors, and coworkers to build a behavioral baseline and identify any missed warning signs.

Reaction from Authorities

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting. Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said the case emphasizes the importance of vetting people before they come across the border.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said 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.’ The suspect then drove to another location, parked, and continued shooting at pedestrians before being shot and killed by police.