Suspect Identified After Two People Passed Away at Texas Bar — Latest Updates

Panic erupted outside a busy Austin bar as shots rang out, sending crowds running for safety. By the time the chaos ended, two people had lost their lives.

In the early hours of Sunday, March 1, 2026, a gunman opened fire on people gathered outside a bar in Austin, Texas, killing two and injuring 14 others. Police confronted and fatally shot the suspect at the scene, the Associated Press reported.

Federal authorities are investigating the shooting as a possible act of terrorism. Witnesses later described the chaos as it unfolded, and public officials responded in the hours that followed.

What Happened Outside the Bar

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the suspect drove past the bar several times before stopping and opening fire from his SUV at people gathered on the patio and near the entrance.

Authorities said he used both a pistol and a rifle during the attack. He then got out of the vehicle carrying a rifle and continued shooting at pedestrians along the street until officers reached the intersection and shot him dead, ending the rampage. Three victims remained in critical condition Sunday morning.

For many outside that night, the shift from celebration to chaos happened in seconds.

When Chaos Erupted on a Busy Night

Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old senior, said he had been at the bar with friends earlier that night.

He described the venue as tightly packed with college students, many believed to be from the University of Texas (UT), with hundreds standing shoulder to shoulder and enjoying their evening before the shooting began.

About 10 minutes before the first shots, Comeaux left to grab pizza from a food truck across the street. At first, people nearby thought the noise was fireworks or a motorcycle.

Then the reality became clear. Comeaux said he ducked behind a bench for about a minute before looking up and seeing officers sprint toward the scene. He began recording on his phone as more gunfire erupted.

He said he saw the suspect turn his weapon toward police before officers shot him. "The UT community has definitely been majorly affected by this," Comeaux said, according to AP.

As investigators pieced together what happened, attention quickly turned to who was responsible.

Who Was the Suspect?

Authorities later identified the gunman as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne. He reportedly arrived in the United States in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa. He later became a lawful permanent resident and was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2013. Officials also said he was originally from Senegal.

Investigators also disclosed that he wore clothing featuring an Iranian flag design and the words "Property of Allah."

The attack unfolded just one day after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Those details quickly raised urgent questions about motive.

Questions Grow About What Drove the Attack

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has formally joined the case.

According to KVUE, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force entered the investigation after preliminary evidence was recovered from the scene.

FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran said multiple specialized teams, including evidence response and digital forensics units, are analyzing materials collected from the suspect and his vehicle.

"Obviously it's still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation," Doran said. "But there were indicators that on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism."

Authorities stressed that investigators are examining those indicators carefully but have not yet determined a definitive motive.

As federal resources surged into Austin, state officials also moved quickly.

As the Investigation Expands, Leaders Respond

On Instagram, Congressman Greg Casar said he was deeply saddened and disturbed by the shooting in downtown Austin. He expressed sympathy for the victims and their families and gratitude toward first responders and medical staff who helped save lives.

Casar also renewed his call for stronger action to address gun violence, saying people should be able to enjoy a night out without fear and pledging to continue working in Congress to prevent similar tragedies.

In a separate statement, Governor Greg Abbott said Texas mourns with the families of those killed and is praying for the injured. He said he has been in contact with Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Department of Public Safety Director Steve Martin and has offered full state resources to assist the response.

Abbott also said the attack would not define Texas and warned against using tensions in the Middle East to threaten the state or its infrastructure.

He announced that service members were activated under Operation Fury Shield and that patrols were increased at energy facilities, ports, along the border, and in downtown Austin. Additional cybersecurity personnel and aerial surveillance were also deployed.

"Texans are strong," Abbott said. "We will not be intimidated, and we will not be terrorized. We will defend our state without hesitation."

Only weeks before the Austin attack, a separate mass shooting shook a high school hockey arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

As previously reported, the incident occurred on Monday, February 16, leaving three people dead and three others critically injured. In the aftermath, a woman leaving the police department stunned reporters when she said her father had been responsible for the gunfire during the game.

Gunfire Shatters Senior Night Celebration

The shooting happened at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, an indoor skating facility, around 2:30 p.m. Authorities said the violence ended when a bystander intervened, subdued the suspect, and helped bring the situation under control.

Video from a livestream of the game shows the moment play was interrupted by rapid gunfire that appeared to come from the stands. At least 14 shots were heard in quick succession, followed by one or two more shots about 10 seconds later.

Players and spectators were seen rushing off the ice and fleeing the stands to escape the gunfire. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said the suspect was among the three people who died. She added that investigators believe the suspect's fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted.

Meanwhile, Brown Health spokesperson confirmed that the three family members in serious condition were admitted to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment.

'He Shot My Family' – Daughter's Stunning Confession

At the time, police have not released the identities of the victims, saying that this information will be shared only after family members have been notified. However, an unnamed woman leaving the Pawtucket Police Department with a man and a child said she knew who the suspect was.

"My father was the shooter," she declared, adding, "He shot my family, and he's dead now." The woman also said her father had mental health issues. She explained that he had struggled for a long time and was "very sick," though she did not share further details.

As she walked toward a pickup truck parked across from the police department, the woman said she did not know who had been killed and that she planned to go to the hospital next.

Shock, Sympathy, and Online Reactions

Online, many people reacted with disbelief at how the woman spoke publicly about the tragedy, with one person writing, "Rarely see an interview like that by a daughter😳." Another viewer focused on her courage, adding, "It is a really brave move by the daughter of the shooter to speak out."

The emotional toll of the moment also stood out to some, including one netizen who shared, "That poor woman who said it was her father. Such a shocking ordeal for all." One person spoke of the victims and the setting, "This is so upsetting. People are going to watch a game, and they've been killed. 💔"

Suspect Identified as Parent of High School Senior

Authorities have since identified the Pawtucket shooting suspect as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who identified as transgender and also used the name Roberta. Dorgan, the parent of a North Providence High School senior, shot four relatives and a family friend during the hockey game.

As conversations shifted toward the suspect's transgender identity, one person pushed back against that focus, writing, "A horrific tragedy, but blaming identity distracts from the real issues. We should focus on mental health, warning signs, and prevention, not scapegoating."

Sources familiar with the case said the three people who died include the student's mother, who was killed at the rink, the student's sibling, who later died at the hospital, and the suspect, who died by suicide. Goncalves said investigators believe the shooting may have been linked to a targeted family dispute.

Some reactions also echoed that view, with one person penning, "Tragic family dispute turned deadly heartbreaking for the victims. Mental health struggles were clearly a factor long before anything else. Sending condolences to the families affected."

Student Barricades Himself as Parent Searches in Panic

The "Senior Night" matchup was underway when the tragedy occurred. It featured the Coventry-Johnston co-op team facing off against the Blackstone Valley Schools team, which included St. Raphael Academy, Providence Country Day School, and the public school districts of North Providence and North Smithfield.

One student leaving the arena recalled hearing several "bangs" before people began rushing toward the exits, realizing gunshots were being fired. Silas Core, a Coventry-Johnston player who was on the bench during the game, said teammates barricaded themselves in the locker room, pressing their bodies against the door.

"Everybody was, you know, worried about our parents," he said. His mother, Melissa Dunn, who had been in the stands, searched for him while witnessing others performing CPR, describing the scene as disturbing.

A nearby Walgreens employee said that panicked customers entered the store, reporting a shooting. The employee said they immediately called 911 and closed the pharmacy.

State and Federal Officials Address the Shooting

Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien addressed the deadly shooting at Senior Night, noting that the event, intended as a celebration for students and their families, was instead shattered by violence and fear. He offered his prayers to the victims, their families, and all those affected by the tragedy.

Grebien continued, "Pawtucket is a strong and resilient community, but tonight we are a city in mourning. We will stand together to support all those affected in the difficult days ahead, and we will keep the public updated as confirmed facts become available."

Governor Dan McKee also issued a statement urging anyone in need of mental health support to call 988. He noted that additional resources will be made available to students and families throughout the week.

McKee acknowledged the state's grief and expressed heartbreak for the victims, their families, and everyone affected by the shooting. He added that the impacted cities and towns have the state's full support.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on X that agents from the Boston Division are on the ground in Pawtucket assisting with the investigation.

He pledged to provide state and local law enforcement with all necessary resources and to keep the public informed. The shooting is also under investigation by the Rhode Island Attorney General's office.