An Indian-American has been identified as one of the two people killed in a mass shooting outside a bar in Austin, Texas, early Sunday, authorities said. Police identified the victims as Savitha Shan, 21, and Ryder Harrington, 19. The gunman was killed after an exchange of fire with police; 14 others were wounded.
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 shooting occurred at Buford’s, a beer garden in Austin’s entertainment district on the 600 block of Rio Grande Street. Officers received a call at 1:39 a.m. reporting a man shooting at the establishment. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said paramedics and officers were on scene within 57 seconds and began treating victims.
According to investigators, the suspect drove an SUV around the block, opened fire from the vehicle’s window at patrons seated outside, then exited the SUV and continued shooting while walking up the street. Responding officers fatally shot the suspect. Authorities recovered a handgun and a rifle at the scene and multiple weapons inside the SUV.
Multiple U.S. officials identified the suspect as Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalised U.S. citizen born in Senegal. Sources told CBS News Diagne was 53, arrived in the U.S. in 2006 and became a citizen in 2013; he reportedly had lived in New York before moving to Texas. Law enforcement sources said he had prior mental episodes in Austin. Officials believe he acted alone.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation. Officials said there were indicators on the suspect and in his vehicle suggesting a “potential nexus to terrorism,” though investigators 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-radicalised.
FBI San Antonio expressed condolences and 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.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered activation of service members under Operation Fury Shield and increased patrols and surveillance in downtown Austin’s 6th Street District. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz said authorities do not yet know whether the shooting was related to terrorism.
