Terror Probe Underway After Deadly Shooting at Buford’s on Austin’s 6th Street
Austin is still reeling from one of the deadliest mass shootings in the city’s history, as federal and local investigators work to piece together why a 53-year-old man opened fire on a crowd of late-night bar-goers in the heart of the city’s entertainment district last weekend.
What Happened
Just before 2 a.m. on Sunday, Ndiaga Diagne drove a Cadillac Escalade past Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden on West 6th Street several times before stopping, turning on his hazard lights, and opening fire on patrons at the patio and in front of the bar with a pistol. He then parked near Wood Street, got out of his vehicle, and continued shooting at people in the area — this time with both a pistol and a rifle.
Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said paramedics received the call at 1:59 a.m., and the first responders were on scene within 57 seconds. That rapid response is widely credited with keeping the death toll from climbing higher. Officers met the suspect at an intersection on 6th Street and shot and killed him.
BREAKING:
APD PROVIDES UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION
The Victims
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis named three victims: 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, 21-year-old Savitha Shan, and 30-year-old Jorge Pederson, who was taken off life support the day after the shooting.
Shan was a student at the University of Texas at Austin; UT President Jim Davis described her as a “Longhorn preparing to change the world.”
Fourteen others were taken to the hospital, including three in critical condition.
George Davis was walking to his Uber when a bullet struck him in the back.
He ran, bleeding, and texted his family he loved them. He credits three strangers with saving his life. Now home from the hospital, he’s sharing his story — and searching for the people who helped him.
Who Was Ndiaga Diagne?
Diagne first entered the U.S. in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa and became a lawful permanent resident six years later after marrying a U.S. citizen. He became a naturalized citizen in 2013 and was originally from Senegal. At the time of the shooting, he was living in Pflugerville, a suburb northeast of Austin.
Law enforcement records confirm that Diagne had an extensive criminal history dating back to a 2001 arrest for illegal vending in Manhattan. In 2016, he was accused of critically injuring a woman in Brooklyn after purposely running her over with a company car. That same year, he moved to Texas.
AUSTIN MASS SHOOTING — What we know about the suspect:
— Austin Justice (@AustinJustice) March 1, 2026
Ndiaga Diagne, 53, born in Senegal. Naturalized U.S. citizen. Lived in Pflugerville, Texas.
Immigration history:
• Entered the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa on March 13, 2000
• Became a lawful permanent resident in June… pic.twitter.com/B9tNLOSWBI
Two law enforcement sources told CBS News that investigators say the shooter had prior mental health episodes in Austin.
Court records show a judge found Diagne had a pattern of family violence, a civil ruling that didn’t bar him from owning firearms under Texas law. The documents, obtained by The Texas Tribune and Austin Current, highlight how findings in family court can fail to trigger criminal penalties or gun restrictions, even as research links domestic violence histories to mass shootings. (Texas Tribune)
The Question of Motive
This is where the investigation grows more complex. A social media account investigators believe to be connected to Diagne was created in October 2024 and last posted in December 2025. In those posts, he expressed pro-Iranian, antisemitic, anti-Christian, and misogynistic views, though nothing indicated a planned attack.
The physical evidence found at the scene and at his home raised serious red flags. Officials executing a search warrant at Diagne’s house found an Islamic Republic of Iran flag and pictures of Iranian leaders. He was reportedly wearing a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah” with an undershirt bearing an Iranian flag design.
The timing is also significant. The shooting took place a day after the United States and Israel launched a major military operation on Iran.
Despite these indicators, investigators are urging caution. FBI Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran described it as an act of “targeted violence” but said investigators had not yet found an “ultimate motivation.” Both APD and the FBI confirmed that Diagne was not on their radar before the shooting. Investigators are looking at whether the suspect self-radicalized, while also considering his documented history of mental health issues.
Where the Investigation Stands
The FBI is working in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety to determine if Diagne acted alone or had connections to a terrorist group. Governor Abbott has said investigators will pursue “every last trail” to determine if anyone else was involved. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation, though as of now the shooting is considered an isolated incident rather than part of a larger plot.
For a city known for its vibrant nightlife, the scars from that early Sunday morning will take a long time to heal. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
If you have information related to this case, contact Austin Police at 512-974-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip through Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.
Travis County District Attorney José Garza said Wednesday that he will not pursue charges against the three Austin police officers who opened fire on a mass shooter early Sunday along the crowded, bar-lined stretch of West 6th Street. The suspected gunman, Ndiaga Diagne, had already killed three people and wounded 13 others and was still firing when officers shot and killed him.
Michael Bullock is the president of the local police union:
Sunday morning’s shooting and early speculation about the suspect’s religion landed in the middle of an already charged political climate in Texas, where Republican leaders have escalated attacks on Muslim organizations. (KUT 90.5)
Reports of a shooting overnight.
Exact location along North Lamar was not provided. Actual time of the call was 2:22 a.m. CST (the timestamp shown is PST).
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) is investigating a shooting that occurred Tuesday morning. A man reportedly shot and killed his sister in Austin’s Colony area.
According to authorities, the 911 call was received shortly before 11:30 a.m., reporting a domestic dispute involving shots fired at a residence located on the 4500 block of Secure Lane.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found Cynthia Rios Juarez, 63-year-old resident of Round Rock, and 49-year-old Courtney Leander Nation, both with gunshot wounds.
Juarez suffered serious injuries. Officers began CPR maneuvers immediately, but she was declared lifeless at the scene at 12:01 p.m.
Nation was flown to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (KVUE-TV)
Leander authorities are investigating a vandalism and burglary incident that occurred last month.
In Bexar County, a woman was arrested on an aggravated assault charge, among others, after she allegedly fired a gun at a man and his vehicle following a verbal altercation Monday.
A San Antonio man was arrested on several charges in connection to car burglaries in Hays County. (FOX 7 Austin)
Austin police and Capital Area Crime Stoppers are looking for a man wanted on sexual assault charges.
Pflugerville Mayor Doug Weiss on Wednesday declared an emergency for the city “due to historically low levels” at Lake Pflugerville following the failure of a pipeline that fills the city’s main source of water.
Some City of Austin workers fear budget cuts may threaten public safety. The city is working to centralize Austin Technology Services as part of cost-cutting efforts after Proposition Q failed to pass last November.
Many Williamson County voters faced long lines and confusion Tuesday after the county switched to precinct‑specific voting for election day, a change many residents said they did not know about. County Democrats and Republicans are blaming each other.
Eric Opiela, an election law expert who represents Williamson County, spoke on some of the issues that voters faced Tuesday and if those issues will impact voters in November.
A tighter, cleaner rewrite:
A newly released National Transportation Safety Board report says a Waymo autonomous vehicle in Austin contacted a remote human assistance agent in Michigan to confirm whether a nearby school bus was signaling drivers to stop — and the agent incorrectly said it wasn’t.
All aspects of the January 12 incident, as well as the other similar incidents associated with Austin ISD school buses, remain under investigation
Are driverless Waymo cars slowing down traffic?
Northbound Interstate 35 in South Austin will close for two nights this weekend as crews continue work on the highway’s massive expansion.
PODCAST
We made it past Austin’s several weeks of winter, and spring is officially springing. It’s time for festivals, bluebonnets, Election Day, and so much more. Host Nikki DaVaughn and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec are joined by Austin-based content creator Poonam Patel to share their best recommendations for what to do, and how to do it, this March.
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
It’s been a while.
Parts of North Texas saw some damage from strong storms last night.
Mother Nature.. was this a sign that you were going to give me 5 rounds of hail?..#txwx
— David Alford (@DavidAlfWx) March 5, 2026
Video filmed in Tow, TX. pic.twitter.com/gSqm9GK6Zj
The numbers are out, and Texas once again topped the list for the most lightning strikes out of any state in the United States, according to an annual report from Vaisala Xweather.
Sen. John Cornyn defied expectations in the Texas GOP primary on Tuesday. National Republicans believe his unexpectedly strong showing may be enough for President Donald Trump to endorse the embattled incumbent. (Politico)
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, admitted Wednesday to having an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, after initially denying the allegation. (Texas Tribune)
Houston Mayor John Whitmire asserts the city hasn’t done enough. In November 2024, he declared his intention to “end homelessness” in Houston. (Houston Public Media)
A new jet hangar will double the amount of private jets that fly in and out of the Hill Country. (My San Antonio)
A judge halted construction at Camp Mystic‘s Guadalupe campus after a flood killed 27, but wouldn’t block the camp from reopening the Cypress Lake campus.
Deputies in Fayette County seized over 44 pounds of meth after a traffic stop on I-10 on Sunday.
Texas authorities say a Wisconsin man was killed Wednesday morning after fleeing a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca.
UPDATE: On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at around 10:30 a.m. CT, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Texas Highway Patrol Troopers and Aircraft Operations Division (AOD) pilots were called to assist in a high-speed pursuit involving a vehicle that fled a U.S. Border Patrol…
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) March 4, 2026
The 2026 Texas primary elections mark a pivotal moment in a state where many races are effectively decided long before Election Day. There are more than 18 statewide elected officials up for election, along with Texas’ members of Congress, state legislators, district-based judges and local elected officials.
The morning after March 3rd’s election, TribCast co-host and Tribune law and politics reporter Eleanor Klibanoff spoke with a panel of political reporters about what the election results mean for the state going forward.
(Episode from March 4, 2026)
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) will soon prohibit hardback books and any books that appear clearly used from entering state facilities.
The policy, set to take effect next month, is part of a broader effort to stop illegal narcotics from being smuggled inside. (KVUE-TV)
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels on Wednesday unveiled Wasserbahn Racers, a new high-speed face-first mat racing attraction debuting for the 2026 season.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Sophomore center Matas Vokietaitis posted a team-high 21 points, but Texas (18-12, 9-8 SEC) dropped a 105-85 decision at No. 20/19 Arkansas (22-8, 12-5 SEC) on Wednesday night in Bud Walton Arena. The Longhorns allowed opponent team season highs in points, field goals made (35-60) and three-point field goal percentage (57.9, 11-19) during the loss. (Texas Longhorns)
UP NEXT
Last night in the Big 12, a win for No. 8 Houston.
Kingston Flemings had 21 points and seven assists, Emanuel Sharp added 19 points and No. 7 Houston rallied for a 77-64 win over Baylor on Wednesday night. (Associated Press)
NBA: Dallas, Houston and San Antonio were all idle last night. Tonight, the Mavericks are on the road while both the Rockets and Spurs play at home.
NHL: Some news from the Dallas Stars.
The Stars are off again tonight and will host Colorado tomorrow night.
ASTROS: The Houston Astros will be monitoring Jeremy Peña after he was forced out of a World Baseball Classic exhibition match on Wednesday between the Dominican Republic and the Detroit Tigers. (Newsweek)
RANGERS: The Texas Rangers are bringing back a figure from the past, one who disappeared under a shroud of controversy nearly six years ago. (Dallas Morning News)
Earlier we mentioned the new Wasserbahn Racers, a new high-speed face-first mat racing attraction opening soon at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels.
Let’s get an up-close early look at the new attraction.
