Three people were killed early Sunday during a shooting at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, a popular bar in Austin, Texas. Fourteen others were wounded, including three critically. The gunman, who has not been identified, was also among the dead.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said officers received reports of a man shooting at the bar in the city’s entertainment district. When police arrived they confronted the armed man and returned fire, killing the suspect.
FBI special agent Alex Doran said an exact motive remains unclear, but investigators found “indicators” on the gunman and in his car suggesting a potential nexus to terrorism. “In terms of specifically what type of terrorism, we’re just at this point prepared to say that it was potentially an act of terrorism,” Doran said.
Davis said the suspect drove past the bar several times before opening fire from his vehicle. He then parked and walked toward the bar, shooting at patrons with a rifle. Austin Emergency Medical Services Chief Robert Luckritz said three people were found dead at the scene. Luckritz added that emergency crews received a call at 1:39 a.m. local time (0739 GMT) and that the first paramedics and officers were on scene treating patients within 57 seconds.
Police maintain a large presence in the party neighborhood and were able to quickly dispatch officers as bars were closing. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the rapid response of public safety officials, saying he was “very thankful for the speed with which our public safety officials responded to this” and that it likely saved lives.
Edited by: Natalie Muller