Austin Shooting Incident Leaves Two Dead, Multiple Injured

In a tragic incident early Sunday morning, a gunman killed two individuals and injured 14 others outside a busy bar in Austin. The situation escalated when police shot and killed the suspect, bringing the total number of fatalities to three.

The FBI is currently examining whether the attack could be classified as terrorism. Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Dolan mentioned that there is concerning evidence linked to the suspect and his vehicle. According to reports, the agency has deployed its evidence response and digital forensics units to investigate the scene.

“It’s obviously still too early to determine the exact motive,” Dolan stated. “However, there were signs on the subject and his vehicle that indicated a potential connection to terrorism.”

The violence began just before 2 a.m. at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden located on West 6th Street. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis detailed that the suspect repeatedly circled the city block in a large SUV, activating the vehicle’s flashers while firing a handgun at patrons outside. After exiting the vehicle near Wood Street, he continued to shoot at pedestrians and switched to a rifle as he moved along Sixth Avenue. Police officers, who were stationed nearby, confronted him, resulting in his death. Chief Davis confirmed that the attacker never entered the bar and that only a pistol and a rifle were recovered.

The suspect, reportedly a U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, had lived in New York City from 2000 to 2008 and had an arrest record in Texas. Sources indicated that he was dressed in clothing featuring the phrase “Property of Allah” and may have had an Iranian flag or imagery on his undershirt, raising additional concerns about his motivations. It was noted that he had been a naturalized citizen for 15 years, and authorities have not excluded mental illness as a factor in the incident, alongside the terrorism angle.

Emergency responders, who were already in the area as part of a weekend safety initiative, arrived at the scene within minutes to assist the injured, efficiently treating critically ill patients within 24 minutes.

“There is no question that the quick response of our police officers, first responders, and professionals made a difference and saved lives,” commented Mayor Kirk Watson.

Investigators discovered suspicious items in the suspect’s vehicle, prompting a bomb squad search, but no explosives were found. Police have yet to disclose the identity of the suspect.