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G-un-fire ripped through Austin’s Sixth Street at 2 a.m. — and now the FBI says there are “indicat0rs” of terrorism. What began as a packed Sunday night at Buford’s Bar turned into chaos when a gunman opened fire near West Sixth and Rio Grande. Three people are dead — including the suspected shooter — and at least 14 others were rushed to hospitals. Some remain in critical condition. Police say the suspect, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, allegedly drove around the area before firing from his vehicle, then continued shooting after getting out. Officers responded within seconds and fatally sh0t him at the scene. But that’s where the story takes a darker turn. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case, citing “indicators” that suggest a possible nexus to terrorism. Federal agents, ATF teams, and bomb squads were seen investigating locations tied to the suspect, including properties outside Austin. What were those “indicat0rs”? Was this random violence — or something more calculated? And what did investigators reportedly find in the suspect’s vehicle? Texas leaders are increasing patrols. BIood banks are calling for donations. And a city known for its nightlife is left shaken.

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3 killed, 14 injured in Sixth Street mass shooting, FBI says there are ‘indicators’ of terrorism

 — Three people are dead, including the shooter, and at least 14 others are injured after a gunman opened fire at a bar on West Sixth Street early Sunday morning. The FBI said there are “indicators” of terrorism related to the shooting.

Here are the main headlines:

A gunman, identified by Austin PD as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, opened fire at Buford’s Bar, near the intersection of West Sixth Street and Rio Grande Street around 2 a.m. Sunday.
Three people were killed, including the shooter. Fourteen others were taken to the hospital, including three in critical condition. It’s unclear if those people were shot or were otherwise injured.
Law enforcement officers were seen at a home in Pflugerville and an apartment complex in Del Valle, possibly tied to the investigation.
The FBI is taking the lead on the investigation, according to the mayor’s office. There are “indicators” of terrorism, the FBI said in a press conference Sunday.
Gov. Abbott has directed DPS to increase patrols and add law enforcement personnel in the area during weekends, adding, “We must ensure enough boots on the ground to discourage criminal activity.”
Anyone looking for property left behind in the area should contact businesses directly to retrieve them, APD said.
We Are Blood said donations are needed in the wake of the shooting. The organization sent out more than 90 blood products to hospitals Sunday.
WATCH: Video shows the moment the gunman was taken down by Austin police.
VIDEO: Waymo seen blocking first responders during West Sixth shooting

The Austin Police Department posted a photo on social media of the gunman, Ndiaga Diagne.

Possible ties to terrorism

The FBI has taken the lead on the investigation from the Austin Police Department, according to the Mayor Kirk Watson’s office. In a press conference Sunday, the FBI said there were “indicators” of terrorism related to the shooting.

Alex Doran, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio field office, said its joint terrorism task force is investigating, along with other specialty teams. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also responded to the scene.

“Obviously, it’s still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” Doran said.

Another press conference is expected on Monday.

Investigators on the scene of mass shooting at Buford’s on downtown Austin’s 6th Street on March 1, 2026. (KXAN photo/Matt Grant)

Investigators on the scene of mass shooting at Buford’s on downtown Austin’s 6th Street on March 1, 2026. (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)

A mass shooting left three people dead and at least 14 more injured (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)

Investigators on the scene of mass shooting at Buford’s on downtown Austin’s 6th Street on March 1, 2026. (KXAN photo/Matt Grant)

FBI Evidence Response Team arrives at scene (KXAN photo/Matt Grant)

(KXAN photo/Matt Grant)

Investigators on the scene of mass shooting at Buford’s on downtown Austin’s 6th Street on March 1, 2026. (KXAN photo/Matt Grant)

FBI Evidence Response Team arrives at scene (KXAN photo/Matt Grant)

Investigators on the scene of mass shooting at Buford’s on downtown Austin’s 6th Street on March 1, 2026. (KXAN photo/Matt Grant)

(KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)

(KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)

(KXAN photo/Todd Bynum)

(KXAN photo/Todd Bynum)

(KXAN photo/Madison Myers)

FBI Evidence Response Team arrives at scene (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)

FBI Evidence Response Team arrives at scene (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)

Austin Police on the scene where a mass shooting took place on West Sixth Street on March 1, 2026. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)

FBI on the scene where a mass shooting took place on West Sixth Street on March 1, 2026. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)

Bomb squad on scene of West Sixth Street suspects home in Pflugerville.

Bomb squad on scene of West Sixth Street suspects home in Pflugerville.

Vehicles being searched that were involved in Sunday morning’s West Sixth Street deadly shooting.

Austin Police officers responded to the popular street to calls about a man shooting at Buford’s Bar. This is a view from the area on Sunday, March 1 at 9:50 a.m.

Austin Police officers responded to the popular street to calls about a man shooting at Buford’s Bar. This is a view from the area on Sunday, March 1 at 9:50 a.m.

Austin Police officers responded to the popular street to calls about a man shooting at Buford’s Bar. This is a view from the area on Sunday, March 1 at 9:50 a.m.

What we know about the shooter

While the gunman has not yet been identified by law enforcement publicly, mulitple sources have confirmed to KXAN that he was Ndiaga Diagne, 53. According to police, two weapons were used in the shooting — a pistol and a rifle.
 
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told KXAN that Diagne entered the U.S. in March 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa. He became a lawful permanent resident in June 2006, receiving an IR-6 visa based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, DHS said. He later naturalized as a U.S. citizen in April 2013.

Diagne was arrested in Texas in 2022 for collision with vehicle damage, DHS said.

Timeline of the shooting

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the gunman, who sources have identified as Ndiaga Diagne, drove around the area in an SUV several times before firing a handgun out of the window. Those shots hit people on the patio and in front of the bar, according to police.

Davis said the gunman then parked the vehicle on Wood Street, got out and shot at people walking by. Police responded at that time, and Diagne was shot and killed.
 
Officers and ATCEMS medics were able to respond to the area quickly because of usual staging on nearby East Sixth Street. ATCEMS Chief Robert Luckritz said medics were on scene within 57 seconds of getting the call at 1:59 a.m.

“I’m very thankful for the speed with which our public safety officials responded to this,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. “I don’t think there’s any question that it saved lives.”

Texas State University is home to the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center (ALERRT), which trains law enforcement agencies nationwide. Assistant Executive Director John Curnutt said the quick response — not only by police and EMS but also patrons at the bar — “made a huge difference.”

 
“Until we can get there, those seconds and minutes are crucial, and not only on the prevention or the response side, but now we get in to stop the bleed, which is what we saw a lot of people doing, helping rendering aid to people that are in their time of need,” Curnutt said. “And when there’s only so many of us on scene, it’s nice to have these force multipliers of people that are willing and able to help.”

Reactions from city, state leaders

Lawmakers from the city to the state level have shared statements in reaction to Sunday’s shooting. Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri, who represents the downtown area, said he was “deeply shaken and heartbroken” by the shooting.

“We saw evil in its most truest, vilest form last night, but we also saw hereos in Austin — and that being our APD and EMS first responders were on scene in less than a minute,” Qadri said.
 
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza’s office said in a statement the office was in touch with law enforcement partners to support the investigation.

“We are heartbroken for all the shooting victims and our community impacted by this senseless violence,” the DA’s office said. “We are grateful for the courageous response from first responders, who undoubtedly saved lives.”
 
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas mourns with the families of those who were “horrifically killed” in the attack.

“This act of violence will not defineus, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans,” Abbott said. “To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state.”

Abbott said he directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to increase patrols and add law enforcement personnel in the area during weekends, adding, “We must ensure enough boots on the ground to discourage criminal activity.”

Taylor Alanis, Matt Grant, Madison Myers, Nabil Remadna and Kelly Wiley contributed to this report.

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