The Texas gunman who shot two dead and wounded 14 others had photos of Iranian leaders and the Iranian flag inside his home, sources have revealed.
Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a former New York City resident and US citizen originally from Senegal, was identified as the shooter by a law enforcement source to the Daily Mail.
Two people were shot dead and 14 more were wounded at a packed-out bar in Austin during the early hours of Sunday, before officers killed the attacker in return fire.
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After officials obtained a search warrant, the gunman’s home was searched and found to have photos of Iranian leaders as well as the Iranian flag inside, sources told CBS News.
The gunman was also seen wearing a shirt reading ‘Property of Allah’. He was also wearing an undershirt or t-shirt that had an Iranian flag or Iranian representations on it, according to Fox News.
A Quran was also said to have been found in the shooter’s vehicle, sources told CBS.
The suspect had a history of arrests in Texas, and is believed to have lived in New York City from 2000 to 2008. Sources told the outlet that Diagne also had a history of mental health episodes in Austin.
Diagne had been previously arrested in New York City in 2001 for illegal vending before a string of arrests from 2008 to 2016, the New York Post reported.
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The gunman, identified as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, was seen in a ‘Property of Allah’ hoodie as police searched his home and discovered photos of Iranian leaders and an Iranian flag, sources say
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Two people were shot dead and 14 more were wounded at a packed-out bar in Austin during the early hours of Sunday, before officers killed the attacker in return fire
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Diagne had been previously arrested in New York City in 2001 for illegal vending before a string of arrests from 2008 to 2016
Sources told the outlet that three arrests are sealed. Despite the arrests, Diagne became a naturalized citizen in April, 2013.
The horror unfolded at Buford’s bar on West Sixth Street in Austin’s Entertainment District just before 2am on Sunday, according to officials.
The bar is a nightlife destination filled with bars and music clubs and only a few miles from the University of Texas at Austin.
Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old senior, had spent the evening there with friends and said the bar was ‘full of college students, probably mostly UT kids, shoulder to shoulder, hundreds just enjoying their nights.’
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the gunman never entered the bar, but fired at patrons from the street with a handgun and a rifle.
A total of 17 people were shot in the spree – 14 were injured and taken to hospital, while three were pronounced dead at the scene, including the shooter. Three of those hospitalized remain in critical condition.
Davis described the shooting as a ‘tragic, tragic incident’, and praised the bravery of responding officers who were ‘faced with an individual with a gun.’
Footage shared to social media showed a heavy police presence at the scene, as a shirtless individual lay dead in the street.
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Patrons were seen in videos tending to the wounded with police officers, as victims screamed in pain
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Footage shared to social media showed a heavy police presence at the scene, as a shirtless individual lay dead in the street. It is unclear if the deceased person was the shooter or a victim
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, and said in the same statement that he has spoken with several world leaders
Separate footage showed party-goers crouching in fear inside the bar as police arrived on the scene, before several more gunshots rang out – indicating the gunman opened fire again as law enforcement arrived before they were shot dead.
Patrons were seen in videos tending to the wounded with police officers, as victims screamed in pain.
The identities of the victims have not been released.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement to CBS: ‘Texas mourns with the families and loved ones of those who were horrifically killed in last night’s attack in Austin. Cecilia and I pray for them, and we pray for the swift recovery of those who were injured.
‘This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans. 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.’
Officials, including the National Counterterrorism Center, are investigating if the shooting is tied to foreign terrorism.
Just the day before the attack, tensions grew following a military operation by the US and Israel attacking Iran on Saturday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, and said in the same statement that he has spoken with several Middle Eastern leaders on Sunday.
‘Today, President Trump has spoken with the leaders of Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE. The President has also been briefed on the shooting in Austin, Texas,’ Leavitt wrote on X.
‘Following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the strikes on Saturday, Iranian officials vowed to seek revenge against the US.’
Authorities haven’t provided a clear motive for the attacks but found ‘indicators’ on the gunman and in his vehicle leading them to look into the possibility of terrorism, said Alex Doran, the acting agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office.
‘It’s still too early to make a determination on that,’ Doran said Sunday morning.
The scene the following evening was quiet in the typically bustling entertainment district amid downtown Austin’s hills and vintage homes, including that of the governor, whose residence is just blocks away.
Police had taped off several square blocks around Sixth Street, while local police and federal agents, including ATF agents were at the site, according to Austin police serving as sentries.
Unmarked law enforcement vehicles were coming and going, as were firetrucks. Bystanders and news reporters and camera crews stood at the corners outside the yellow tape, trying to catch a glimpse of the activity.
