The FBI declared that the gunman responsible for the March mass shooting at a popular Austin bar acted independently, with no ties to foreign terrorist organizations. The attack at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden left three dead and numerous wounded before the suspect, Ndiaga Diagne, was killed by police.
Investigators cited that Diagne’s violent actions were likely impulsive and influenced by recent geopolitical events, particularly the conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Though the exact motive remains unclear, the FBI noted his apparent admiration for the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death happened around the same time.
Diagne, a 53-year-old lawful permanent resident originally from Senegal, entered the United States on a tourist visa before adjusting his status through marriage. The FBI confirmed he had never been under investigation before and found no indication he received operational support or funding from any terrorist groups.
The shooting unfolded when Diagne drove past the bar, then circled back to open fire from his SUV on people inside and outside the venue. He then exited his vehicle with a rifle and continued shooting on the street until police arrived promptly and fatally shot him within less than a minute of the initial emergency call.
Among the victims were a 21-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man, and a 30-year-old man. The FBI’s ongoing inquiry maintains that no external organizations influenced or directed the attack, reinforcing that Diagne was a lone actor driven by personal motivations linked to international tensions.