By Chris Boyette, Karina Tsui, John Miller, Holmes Lybrand, NCS
(NCS) — Law enforcement is investigating whether the assault on Iran motivated the suspect in an early Sunday morning taking pictures in Austin’s leisure district that killed two individuals and left 14 others wounded, a number of regulation enforcement officers briefed on the case mentioned, although officers cautioned that it was too early to attract any conclusions.
The suspect -— who was additionally killed — had a shirt with an Iranian flag design, two regulation enforcement officers briefed on the assault informed NCS.
Three of these hospitalized are in crucial situation, officers mentioned.
“Obviously, it’s still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and then his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism,” Alex Doran, performing particular agent in cost of the FBI San Antonio Division, mentioned at a information convention Sunday morning.
The suspected gunman was a 53-yr-outdated naturalized US citizen initially from Senegal, in keeping with a regulation enforcement official acquainted with the investigation. The man seems to have arrived within the United States within the early 2000s and initially settled in New York, the official informed NCS.
It’s not clear when the suspect arrived in Texas, however he did have a number of addresses within the state, the official added.
Authorities have searched the person’s dwelling, the official mentioned. They need to search his computer systems and telephones to find out whether he was studying any propaganda or left any writings indicating what he supposed to do.
Authorities are additionally reviewing previous psychological well being encounters the suspect had whereas dwelling in Texas, a number of regulation enforcement officers mentioned.
The suspect had each a pistol and an assault rifle in his possession on the time of the taking pictures, a spokesperson for the FBI’s San Antonio workplace informed NCS on Sunday.
There have been at the least 56 mass shootings within the US thus far this yr – outlined as when at the least 4 individuals are shot, not together with the shooter – in keeping with the Gun Violence Archive.
Authorities acquired a name a few man taking pictures from a big SUV, outdoors Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden at West Sixth and Rio Grande streets, in keeping with Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis. The SUV had been noticed circling the block earlier than the taking pictures, she mentioned.
“At one point, he put his flashers on, rolled down his window, and began using a pistol, shooting out of his car windows, striking patrons of the bar that were on the patio and that were in front of the bar,” Davis mentioned.
The suspect then drove westbound on Sixth Street, parked his automobile and received out on foot with a rifle, Davis mentioned. He then started taking pictures at individuals strolling by, she mentioned.
Because police and emergency medical groups are predeployed downtown on weekends, authorities reached the suspect in lower than a minute, Davis mentioned.
“Our suspect was coming toward East Austin or East Sixth Street, officers were coming toward him, and at the intersection, he was shot and he was killed at this time,” Davis mentioned.
Davis beforehand informed reporters three officers “returned fire” after they encountered the suspect.
The bomb squad was known as in after investigators noticed objects contained in the suspect’s automobile that raised considerations, Davis mentioned, however the automobile was “cleared pretty quickly,” and it was decided there have been no explosives.
“This is a tragic, tragic incident,” Davis mentioned. “Our federal partners are here, as well as others, and this will be a scene that will take several hours to process.”
The FBI San Antonio Division, which covers the Austin space, confirmed the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation based mostly on proof discovered on the scene.
Paramedics embedded within the leisure district with the Austin Police Department on weekends shortly responded, in keeping with Robert Luckritz, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services chief.
“We had more than 20 EMS resources that responded to the scene. We had all critical patients off the scene within 24 minutes, and all patients off the scene within 47 minutes,” Luckritz mentioned.
“Our hearts go out to the people that are victims of this. And I want to again reiterate my thanks to our public safety officers and officials that so rapidly were on the scene,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson mentioned on the information convention. “They definitely saved lives.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott condemned the assault and mentioned he ordered the Department of Public Safety to extend patrols and regulation enforcement personnel within the Sixth Street space on weekends.
“This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans,” he mentioned in a press release.
This story has been up to date with further data.
The-NCS-Wire
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NCS’s Amanda Watts and John Miller contributed to this report.