The suspect in the horrific shooting on 6th Street in Austin has been identified as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a Senegalese-born citizen. According to law enforcement sources, the man entered the United States in 2000 on a tourist visa and officially became a U.S. citizen in 2013.
Immigration records show that Diagne arrived in the U.S. on March 13, 2000, during the Bill Clinton administration. By June 2006, he became a lawful permanent resident after marrying a U.S. citizen. Diagne then completed his naturalization process on April 5, 2013, during the second term of former President Barack Obama.
Legal and Mental Health History
Prior to the shooting, Diagne had been arrested multiple times in New York and Texas on various charges between 2001 and 2016. Sources state the suspect was once charged with illegal vending, though many detailed records currently remain sealed. Notably, authorities in both states had previously recorded Diagne as showing signs of emotional disorders.
In 2016, the suspect applied for asylum in the U.S., although the content and outcome of this application have not been clearly released. Investigators are carefully analyzing these details to understand the suspect's psychology and circumstances leading up to the incident. Currently, the combination of his legal history and mental health issues is a key focus of the investigation.
Attack Details and Investigation into Motive
The shooting occurred in the early hours of March 1 outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, near the University of Texas at Austin campus. Diagne opened fire into a crowd, killing two people and injuring 14 others before being shot and killed by police at the scene. A total of three people died in the incident, including the suspect.
At the scene, police discovered Diagne wearing a shirt with the words "Property of Allah" and found a Quran in his car. The FBI is currently examining the possibility that the motive for the attack is related to the geopolitical context of conflicts involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Some sources indicated the suspect may have worn clothing featuring images or symbols related to the Iranian national flag.
The joint investigation between federal and local agencies is ongoing to clarify the suspect's ultimate objective. Authorities have pledged to provide further information as new details emerge regarding this shocking incident.
