News/Commentary

Austin mass shooter may be Iran-inspired terrorist, became citizen under Obama

March 2, 2026 | | Print Article

The investigation into the killer responsible for the deaths of at least two people at a Texas bar turned up a connection to Iran’s Islamic Regime, while the FBI hasn’t ruled out a “potential nexus to terrorism.”

(Video Credit: CBS Evening News)

Roughly 24 hours after President Donald Trump issued a statement to the American people about Operation Epic Fury striking Iran and less than 12 hours after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) indicated measures had been taken to safeguard against possible “lone wolf retaliatory attacks,” more than a dozen people were injured, and two were killed at a bar in Austin.

A closer look at the now-deceased killer, reported to be Senegal-born 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, faulted numerous administrations for his ongoing presence in the United States while suggesting his actions were motivated by Islamism and sympathies for Iran.

Fox News national correspondent Brooke Taylor broke down immigration details about Diagne that included his March 2000 initial arrival to the United States on a B-2 tourist visa and how he obtained lawful permanent resident status via an IR-6 visa in June 2006 following marriage to a U.S. citizen.

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He went on to become a naturalized citizen in April 2013 despite a record of arrests that included his first in New York in 2001 and numerous others between 2008 and 2016, the New York Post reported. Yet another arrest was documented in 2022 in Texas, where Diagne had taken up residence in Pflugerville.

According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the killer was said to have rolled down his car window outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden and opened fire with a handgun at the exterior patio of the bar before he parked down the block. He then exited his vehicle and approached the bar near the University of Texas at Austin Campus on foot as he continued shooting with a rifle in the early hours of Sunday morning.

While officers deployed to contend with weekend crowds responded within a minute, the killer was responsible for wounding at least 14 people in addition to two fatalities.

Initial evidence supporting a link to Islamic extremism came courtesy of a photo obtained by Fox News, said to depict Diagne at the scene wearing a hoodie that read, “Property of Allah.”

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During a Sunday press conference, FBI San Antonio Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran expressed, “Obviously, it’s still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism.”

“Again, it’s still too early to make a determination on that. That’s why we are investigating it very closely with our partners with the Austin police department,” he added.

CBS News reported that further investigation uncovered an Iranian flag and pictures of Iranian leaders in Diagne’s home, while other reports indicated a Quran had been found in his car.

Rather than suspect a terrorist organization, former FBI supervisor Jason Pack suggested the killer may have been “inspired” in acting alone, as he told CBS News, “This is what keeps the intelligence community up at night. Not people directly associated with terrorist groups, but people who become inspired because of things that are happening in the world.”

Meanwhile, reactions like that of Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R) pointed to the need to put a halt to “ALL immigration” for the time being while Abbott, who had already directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard to “heighten surveillance and patrols” extended that directive to apply to Austin on the weekends while he expressed his prayers to all those impacted by the tragedy.

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“This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans. To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly,” said the governor, “Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state.”

Kevin Haggerty
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