An Indian-American woman was identified as one of two people killed in a mass shooting outside a bar in downtown Austin early Sunday, authorities said. Police named the victims as Savitha Shan, 21, and Ryder Harrington, 19. Fourteen others were wounded.
The shooting occurred at Buford’s, a beer garden on the 600 block of Rio Grande Street in Austin’s entertainment district. Officers received a call at 1:39 a.m. reporting an active shooter. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said paramedics and officers were on scene within 57 seconds and began treating victims.
Investigators say the suspect drove an SUV around the block, opened fire from a vehicle window at patrons seated outside, then exited the SUV and continued shooting while walking up the street. Responding officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect and fatally shot him. Authorities recovered a handgun and a rifle at the scene and found multiple weapons inside the SUV.
Police have identified the suspect as Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Senegal. Law enforcement sources told CBS News Diagne was 53, arrived in the U.S. in 2006 and became a citizen in 2013; he had lived in New York before moving to Texas. Officials said Diagne had prior mental-health episodes in Austin and that they believe he acted alone.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said Monday she did not know whether Shan or Harrington attended local colleges, though several reports indicated Shan was a student at the University of Texas at Austin and Harrington at Texas Tech University.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation. Officials said investigators found indicators on the suspect and in his vehicle suggesting a potential nexus to terrorism, but cautioned it is too early to determine a motive. FBI Acting Special Agent Alex Doran said authorities are probing all possible angles, including whether the suspect may have self-radicalized.
FBI San Antonio confirmed federal assistance, including deployment of an Evidence Response Team, and urged anyone with information to contact tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said its National Counterterrorism Center is coordinating with the FBI and local authorities to assess any potential foreign ties.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered activation of service members under Operation Fury Shield and increased patrols and surveillance in Austin’s 6th Street entertainment district. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz said investigators have not yet determined whether the shooting was linked to terrorism.
Authorities continue to investigate. Officials have asked anyone with video or information about the incident to contact local police or the FBI tip line.
