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Updated 6 March 2026 - Austin police release body-cam footage and 911 calls from the deadly shooting outside a student bar, as federal investigators explore possible terrorist motives.
Chaotic scene captured on police body cameras
Austin police have made public video and audio recordings from the moments a gunman opened fire outside a downtown bar, killing three people and wounding 16 others. The footage, shown during a Thursday news conference, depicts officers advancing through gunfire before fatally shooting the suspect.
Police Chief Lisa Davis described the body-cam video as "difficult to see," noting the rapid, disorienting nature of the attack. Officers arrived within 57 seconds of the first 911 call, according to a department statement.
Victims identified as young adults
The three fatalities have been named as Ryder Harrington, 19; Savitha Shan, 21; and Jorge Pederson, 30. All three were shot outside a bar frequented by University of Texas students. The attack occurred over the same weekend the U.S. conducted airstrikes on Iranian targets, raising concerns about potential retaliatory violence.
Gunman's background and possible motives examined
Authorities have identified the shooter as Ndiaga Diagne, a 32-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal. While no clear motive has been confirmed, investigators found an Iranian flag and photographs of Iranian leaders during a search of Diagne's home, according to U.S. media reports.
CBS News, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the gunman wore a shirt resembling the Iranian flag beneath his hoodie. Body-cam footage also shows him wearing a hoodie with the phrase "Property of Allah" as he fired an AR-15 rifle at bystanders.
Timeline of the attack
The gunman initially fired a pistol from his vehicle before exiting and continuing the assault with a semi-automatic rifle, police said. Multiple 911 calls captured the panic, with one caller urgently stating, "There's people shot. We need help right now."
After neutralizing the threat, officers immediately began treating victims, applying tourniquets to those with life-threatening injuries. Chief Davis praised the responders' swift actions, calling their efforts "overwhelming" under the circumstances.
FBI joins investigation amid terrorism concerns
The FBI has taken an active role in the probe, examining whether the attack had a "nexus to terrorism." Chief Davis confirmed that digital evidence is being analyzed but declined to specify details, stating, "We are not ready to talk about exactly what that nexus is."
"This was a chaotic scene, and our officers performed under extreme pressure," Davis told reporters.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis
