Newly released body-camera footage, surveillance video, and 911 calls are helping piece together the chaos that unfolded on West Sixth Street as officers rushed toward the gunman who opened fire outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden a little over a week ago.
Law enforcement held a press conference on Thursday, March 5, where APD Chief Lisa Davis said the count of people shot in the attack has risen from 17 to 19. Two victims remained hospitalized, including one in critical condition, expanding the scale of what is already the deadliest mass shooting in Austin in decades.
Davis played two of the 911 calls that flooded dispatchers as gunfire erupted outside the bar, putting the tragic event into perspective of those who were at the scene. “I heard six gunshots from inside [Buford’s]. … We’re just right outside. We’re hiding between cars,” the caller said.
Another call captured the panic spreading along the block. “Get down, get down, get down. … It’s not safe,” a caller said as screams can be heard in the background. Moments later, the caller tells dispatchers: “There has been a shooting at Buford’s on Sixth Street. There are people dead over here.”
Police also released videos showing the suspect, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, moments before officers confronted and killed him. One of the videos, recorded from a parked vehicle, shows Diagne walking through a nearby lot holding a rifle. As a pedestrian passes within feet of Diagne, he raises the weapon and points it in their direction before the video cuts off.
Surveillance footage from the city’s HALO camera system also shows Diagne walking away from his vehicle and toward responding officers while holding the weapon.
Body-worn camera footage captures the confrontation that followed. One officer runs toward the scene shouting for people to take cover. “Everybody down,” the officer yells before firing several shots in Diagne’s direction.
A second officer’s camera records officers asking bystanders, “Where is he?” Moments later, the second officer fires several rounds before approaching the suspect.
“Shots fired, shots fired! The suspect is down,” the officer can be heard saying over the radio before shouting at Diagne to “stop moving.”
Davis said the footage underscores how quickly officers moved to stop the attack. “I want to recognize the bravery of our officers as they ran into danger to stop this,” she said. “It is quite clear they saved multiple lives.”
Most of the people struck by gunfire were outside Buford’s, either on the patio or in the street nearby, Davis said. “This was a chaotic scene that was overwhelming for many.”
But investigators are still piecing together the suspect’s background and motive.
APD also addressed a 2022 welfare check involving Diagne, saying the call originated from New York. Davis said the check did not lead to any commitment and that Austin police currently have no information about his mental state at the time of the shooting.
Court records first reported by the Statesman show Diagne previously worked at Tesla’s Gigafactory outside Austin.
A lawsuit filed in Travis County days after the shooting alleges that on Dec. 4, 2025, Diagne “violently and without provocation physically assaulted” the plaintiff during a sanctioned break. The suit argues Tesla failed to provide a safe work environment, with the plaintiff seeking over $1 million in damages.
At the March 5 press conference, Davis said authorities are not yet prepared to discuss the potential terrorism nexus previously raised by federal officials, since the investigation is ongoing. Investigators earlier said items found on Diagne – including clothing that read “Property of Allah” and a shirt bearing an Iranian flag – prompted the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to join the case.
In a statement, the FBI’s San Antonio field office said more than 150 FBI personnel have supported local authorities in the investigation.
“The FBI is analyzing physical and digital evidence, conducting interviews, running down numerous leads, and providing support to victims and their families,” the agency wrote. “All evidence recovery efforts associated with Diagne, including his last known residence, have been completed.”
Buford’s reopened on Friday, March 6, with the bar’s owner stating that 100% of the weekend’s sales would go to victims who were physically impacted.
In a statement, the bar said 40 of its 41 employees told management they felt ready to return. “For many, Buford’s is more than a workplace, it’s their primary source of income and a place where they feel supported and not alone,” the statement said.
The bar said it coordinated with Austin police and city officials and added safety measures before reopening, including increased police presence near Sixth Street and Rio Grande, as well as plans to install protective glass along the beer garden patio.
“We move forward with heavy hearts, deep gratitude for our team and community, and a commitment to stand together,” the statement said.
This article appears in March 13 • 2026.