Our friends and partners at City Cast Austin have been covering the shooting that occurred at Austin’s Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden on Sunday, March 1. This piece was originally published in articles by City Cast Austin, written by Newsletter Editor Kelsey Bradshaw and Executive Producer Eva Ruth Moravec. For more updates, listen to their podcast every weekday morning.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is working with the Austin Police Department to investigate a potential act of terrorism after a shooting early Sunday left four people, including the gunman, dead, and 13 injured.
“There were indicators, on the subject and in his vehicle, that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” said Alex Doran, an FBI acting special agent in charge for the San Antonio field office.
Austin police identified the suspected shooter as Ndiaga Diagne. The Associated Press reported that Diagne was wearing a sweatshirt that said “Property of Allah,” and had on a shirt with an Iranian flag design. A motive has not yet been determined.
Ryder Harrington, 19, died in the shooting, his friend confirmed to City Cast Austin.
Asher Chang said Harrington was from Round Rock and attended Westwood High School before going to Texas Tech University in Lubbock. There, he joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and though Harrington returned to Central Texas in recent months, he was extremely close to his fraternity brothers.
“He was a really funny guy — super energetic, loud, he had a lot of friends,” Chang said. A vigil was held Monday night in Lubbock.
On Monday, Austin police confirmed that Savitha Shan, 21, and Jorge Pederson, 30, had also died.
Over at the University of Texas at Austin, students mourned the loss of Shan, a fellow Longhorn. The UT Student Government held a vigil Wednesday night.
Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to increase weekend patrols in Austin’s Sixth Street District, and also increased security, patrols, and surveillance at energy facilities, ports, along the border, and elsewhere throughout the state.
“We must ensure enough boots on the ground to discourage criminal activity,” Abbott said in a statement, adding, “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.”
Austin police responded to Buford’s Backyard Beer Hall, at West Sixth and Rio Grande streets, around 2 a.m. Sunday as bars were closing. APD Chief Lisa Davis said Diagne opened fire at people on the Buford’s patio and outside the bar from a large SUV.
Diagne then parked the SUV and began shooting at people with a rifle. Three police officers fatally shot Diagne as he walked east on West Sixth Street, Davis said.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised first responders on Sunday saying they were on-site and treating patients within 57 seconds of the call coming in. Police officers also made it to the scene very quickly, he said.
“There is no question in my mind that the quick response of the police officers and of our EMS personnel and those professionals made a difference and saved lives,” Watson said.
Buford’s remained closed on Monday while officials investigated the scene, combing the sidewalks for evidence. A memorial of flowers, notes, and other items were left outside of the bar.
The bar posted a statement on social media saying, in part, that the victims were “young people with their whole lives ahead of them,” and that the FBI has offered Buford’s staff grief counseling services.
APD Chief Lisa Davis gave additional updates at a Thursday press conference. Two people remain at local hospitals, with one in critical condition, Davis said.
During its investigation this week, Austin police learned that 19 people were injured in the shooting, Davis said, sharing video footage of the incident and two recordings of 9-1-1 calls.
The three Austin police officers who shot and killed the suspected shooter will not be charged, Travis County District Attorney José Garza said. Davis said police shot Diagne after he opened fire on them.
Body-worn camera footage shows police running toward Diagne as he stood at the corner of West Sixth Street and West Avenue. People outside the bar pointed officers to where Diagne was as they ran and hid.
Davis said Diagne had no interaction with Austin police before this shooting, and his only engagement with law enforcement was a welfare check in New York in 2022. That same year, a state civil court judge in Bexar County, which encompasses San Antonio, said Diagne had a history of committing family violence. Diagne’s ex-wife was given full custody of the couple’s two sons.
Here’s How You Can Pitch In
Give Blood
We Are Blood is asking for O positive and O negative blood donations. You can schedule an appointment to donate online. Dozens of We Are Blood locations are available to choose from!
Donate to a GoFundMe
GoFundMe pages have been set up for Harrington, who was killed in the shooting; and 21-year-old Rodolfo “Rudy” Garza Jr., who is in the intensive care unit with a gunshot wound. The fundraiser for Harrington has raised more than $120,000 and the fundraiser for Garza has raised more than $310,000.
Go to a Benefit
Marfa Lights Bar, which neighbors Buford’s on West Sixth Street, is donating 100% of its total sales on Friday to victim families. The bar opens at 4 p.m.
JABS, a burger restaurant at Fareground downtown, is donating 100% of its proceeds on Saturday to Night Owl Therapy, which has been providing mental health services to Austin’s nightlife and hospitality community.
Juliet Italian Kitchen is hosting a 5K race on March 14 to raise money for victim families and families of people affected by the shooting. A donation fund for families has been set up.
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