Shooting in Austin Leaves Three Dead, 14 Injured
In a tragic incident early Sunday morning in downtown Austin, Texas, three people lost their lives and 14 others were injured in a shooting that the FBI is calling a “possible act of terrorism.”
The shooter, identified as a 53-year-old man who became a U.S. citizen but was originally from Senegal, resides in Pflugerville, Texas, according to several federal law enforcement officials. They noted that the individual had clothing featuring the word “Allah” and was wearing underwear adorned with the Iranian flag.
The shooting occurred shortly before 2 a.m. outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden on West 6th Street. Witnesses reported that the suspect drove around the block multiple times before discharging his weapon.
“It’s still quite early to pinpoint the exact motive,” stated Alex Dorn, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio field office, at a news conference. “However, there are indications that suggest a potential link to terrorism.” He emphasized the ongoing investigation alongside the Austin Police Department.
When questioned by reporters about whether the incident could be classified as domestic or international terrorism, Dorn confirmed that the Joint Terrorism Task Force was on the case. “At this point, we are ready to say this is a potential terrorist act,” he added.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis provided more details, explaining that the gunman activated his hazard lights, rolled down his windows, and began firing a pistol at people from his vehicle, targeting those on the patio and in front of the bar. The shooter then parked his SUV, exited with a rifle, and continued firing at pedestrians.
Chief Davis noted that officers stationed nearby, due to the lively weekend atmosphere, quickly responded to the scene. They arrived within about 55 to 56 seconds and shot the suspect at the intersection.
This shooting adds to ongoing safety concerns in Austin’s 6th Street entertainment district, which has seen various violent incidents in recent years. Local business owners and police are actively working on improving crowd control measures. Reflecting on this, Hugo Mendez, owner of Blindside Tattoos and Blindside Lounge, remarked, “Every weekend, there’s chaos in front of that bar, right? This is nothing new.” He pointed out that the issues often stem from a specific bar not meeting certain standards.
A hotline has also been established by authorities to assist families in seeking information about the victims.
