Three people are dead, and more than a dozen are injured after a gunman opened fire on patrons inside a crowded bar in Austin, Texas, on Saturday night. Police reported that the incident happened on West 6th Street at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, a popular nightlife spot near the University of Texas campus. It was close to the venue’s typical closing time when several explosions were heard shortly before 2 a.m., causing chaos.
The shots sent patrons scurrying away and scrambling for cover, some behind furniture. Footage from inside the bar shows the attendees in a frantic rush for safety while the gunman continued the attack. Police were alerted about the incident, and a nearby team responded to the report. Authorities said that when the officers arrived within moments of the first 911 calls, they encountered the suspected gunman.
The gunman reportedly challenged the police, leading to a shootout that ended with the man suffering gunshots. The suspect, who was later identified as Ndiaga Diagne, was pronounced dead on the spot. Investigators have not yet disclosed a motive for the attack, but the FBI confirmed it is assisting local authorities and examining whether the shooting could be classified as an act of terrorism.
Three people were killed in the mass shooting, and emergency crews transported at least 14 victims to area hospitals. Some reports indicate that the number of wounded victims is up to 20. Among the injured, multiple people were hospitalised in critical condition.
Despite the rapid response, complications reportedly emerged during rescue efforts. Local television station KXAN reported that paramedics attempting to reach the scene encountered an unexpected obstacle: a self-driving Waymo vehicle stopped in the roadway.
According to the report, a man had ordered the driverless taxi through the Uber app around the time of the shooting. As the autonomous vehicle attempted to complete the pickup, it reportedly came to a halt in the street. The ambulance en route to assist victims at the bar was right behind the vehicle and could not go around it.
After pausing briefly, the ambulance eventually reversed and found an alternate route. Authorities emphasised, however, that emergency personnel still arrived swiftly, within a minute.
