The shooter involved in the recent terror-related incident in Austin had entered the U.S. despite a notable criminal history and established his immigration status under a Democratic administration.
Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old from Senegal, arrived in the United States with a B-2 tourist visa on March 13, 2000, during the Clinton era, according to someone familiar with his immigration background.
He killed two individuals and wounded 14 others during a shooting spree outside a Texas bar early Sunday morning. Diagne married a U.S. citizen in June 2006 and subsequently obtained legal permanent residency with an IR-6 visa.
Law enforcement sources revealed that Diagne had at least one prior arrest for illegal sales in New York City back in June 2001.
From 2008 to 2016, he faced multiple arrests in New York, yet this did not prevent him from becoming a naturalized citizen on April 5, 2013, during former President Barack Obama’s second term. Details about three of his arrests remain sealed.
Additionally, he had been arrested in Texas under undisclosed charges, and officials noted that he was considered to be emotionally disturbed in both states.
During the attack, Diagne was seen wearing a “Property of Allah” hoodie, and a Quran was found in his vehicle.
He opened fire outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, located near the University of Texas at Austin, resulting in two deaths and 14 injuries before police fatally shot him.
According to investigators, who are looking into his possible motives related to the U.S.-Israeli-led efforts against Iran, he was also found wearing underwear marked with Iranian flags and various images associated with Iran.
