The gunman who opened fire at a Texas bar was wearing a shirt reading "Property of Allah", and may have been an Islamic extremist motivated by recent U.S. strikes on Iran. The shooting happened in the early hours of Sunday at an Austin bar, where three people were killed and 14 others were injured before officers shot and killed the suspect.
FBI officials said at a press conference on Sunday that the unidentified suspect was found with materials that "were indications of a potential nexus to terrorism." Police sources said the gunman was a U.S. citizen from Senegal and may have been driven by anger over U.S. strikes on Iran.
Terrorist Links
The gunman was found with a Quran in his vehicle and was wearing what sources described as "Islamic" clothing during the attack. Reporter Bill Melugin said investigators determined the shooter was wearing a shirt that read "Property of Allah," and may also have had on an undershirt or T-shirt displaying an Iranian flag or other Iranian symbols.
The suspect reportedly had a prior arrest record in Texas and is believed to have lived in New York City between 2000 and 2008.
The shooting took place just before 2 a.m. Sunday at Buford's on West Sixth Street in Austin's Entertainment District.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the gunman never went inside the bar, instead firing at people from the street using both a handgun and a rifle.
Seventeen people were shot in total. Fourteen were taken to the hospital, while three were pronounced dead at the scene. Three of those hospitalized remain in critical condition.
Investigators are probing a possible terrorism connection, as the shooting occurred just hours after U.S.-led strikes on Iran, which officials had warned could trigger retaliatory attacks.
Iranian officials vowed retaliation against the United States after Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in airstrikes on Saturday.
Davis called the shooting a "tragic, tragic incident" and commended the courage of officers who rushed in despite being "faced with an individual with a gun."
Kirk Watson also expressed gratitude for the rapid response, saying he was "very thankful for the speed with which our public safety officials responded to this... I don't think there's any question that it saved lives."
US on High Alert
Videos shared on social media showed a large police presence at the scene, with a shirtless person lying dead in the street. Other footage captured people inside the bar crouching in fear as officers arrived, followed by additional gunshots—suggesting the suspect fired again before being shot and killed by police.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or the suspect.
Officials said at a press conference that police officers and paramedics were already positioned near the bar as part of standard weekend safety measures in Austin's entertainment district.
Officials said paramedics reached the scene just 57 seconds after the shooting began.
