Austin Nightlife Turns Deadly: Gunman Kills Several, 14 Wounded—Possible Terrorism Ties | Crime Alert 6AM 03.02.26

Crime Alert, hourly update, breaking crime news now. I'm Nicole Parton in a tragic incident early Sunday morning. A mass shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas resulted in the deaths of two people and left 14 others seriously injured, according to the authorities. Police also reported that an armed suspect was shot and killed by officers during the confrontation. The suspect has been identified as a 53-year-old man in Diaga Diagne, a resident of Pflugerville, Texas, originally from Senegal and a naturalized citizen. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis reported that Diagne circled the bar multiple times before opening fire on patrons both outside the establishment on its patio using a handgun. Afterward, he drove west on 6th Street, parked his vehicle, and emerged with a rifle targeting pedestrians as he moved along the street. Officers later confronted him, leading to an exchange of gunfire that resulted in his death. Authorities recovered both a handgun and a rifle from the scene. Law enforcement sources noted that Diagne was wearing clothing with references to Allah and a t-shirt with the word Iran alongside the Iranian flag. FBI Special Agent Alex Doran mentioned during a press briefing that there were indicators on the suspect and his vehicle, suggesting possible links to terrorism, although he cautioned that it was too early in the investigation to draw any definitive conclusions. This was a very active scene. As many of you know, we have paramedics that are embedded in the entertainment district and with the Austin Police Department on the weekends. We received the call at 1 59 a.m. and within 57 seconds, the first paramedics and officers were on scene actively treating the patients We had a total of 17 patients on the scene 14 of those were transported to the hospital Three were pronounced dead on scene Of the 14 patients who were transported to the hospital three were in critical condition And as I said our condolences go out to everyone that was involved and we'll be back with more information. Investigators are also looking into the suspect's mental health. Currently, the incident is being treated as a lone wolf attack rather than part of a larger conspiracy. Walker Deo, a student at UT who witnessed the shooting, described the chaos as shots rang out. It was just unbelievable, 20 or 30 shots at least, he said. Everyone went into a frenzy running and driving, diving for cover. People jumped into their cars and sped away. Deo expressed concern for the victim, saying he was left with a lasting emotional scar from the experience. Now I find myself questioning whether I want to return to the 6th Street area, he admitted. Emergency Medical Services Chief Robert Lukritz reported that three individuals died at the scene. 14 others were transported to the hospital. Many remain in critical condition. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson commended the swift actions of law enforcement. They undoubtedly saved lives, he said. Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement Sunday afternoon extending his condolences to the victims and their family. Governor Craig Abbott issued a statement Sunday afternoon extending his condolences to the victims and their families. More crime and justice news after this. A woman has been sentenced to 70 years in prison after being convicted of horrific abuse against her young stepdaughter, including keeping her locked in a room with chains physically assaulting her and forcing her to scavenge for food in the school trash bins The investigation into 46 Mariana Miles began when she enrolled her step daughter at Connelly Junior High School and requested a meeting with school officials During this meeting, she claimed that the girl exhibited severe behavior issues and required constant supervision, stating that the child should not eat anything without her permission. However, school staff quickly noticed discrepancies in Miles' portrayal of her stepdaughter as the girl appeared well-mannered but was often seen looking unkempt and wearing inappropriate clothing. Teachers grew increasingly concerned when they observed that the child was underweight and frequently hungry, even resorting to digging through the garbage cans at school to find food. The situation escalated in October when a teacher spotted an injury on the girl's face, which the child reluctantly revealed was caused by her mother's belt. This prompted Child Protective services to contact law enforcement leading to an investigation into Miles' home. Authorities uncovered that the child was often confined to a bare bedroom without proper bedding and that an alarm was installed on the door to prevent her from leaving. Investigators also found evidence of severe physical abuse, including being beaten by both Miles and her other children, as well as being bound with duct tape and heavy chains. Although Miles initially refuted the claim, she later admitted in court to chaining the girl up in her room. Psychological evaluations indicated that the child was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of her stepmother's treatment. Miles was convicted of inflicting serious mental and physical harm on a minor. She was sentenced to 70 years in prison with the possibility of parole after 15. The search for Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is approaching one month and authorities have yet to identify any suspects in her disappearance The Guthrie family has offered a million reward for information that could lead to finding their missing mother. As the 84-year-old remains unaccounted for, both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pima County Sheriff's Department have made significant changes to their teams. Following a final search of the Guthrie residence earlier this week, the FBI pulled most of its personnel and investigators from Tucson, redirecting them to Phoenix. Just two days later, the Pima County Sheriff's Department also withdrew additional officers from the case. This investigation is still ongoing and will persist until Nancy Guthrie is found and all leads are exhausted, a statement indicated. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is redirecting resources to detectives assigned specifically to this case. As new information emerges and is addressed. We will change up resources if need be. The PCSD will maintain a patrol presence in the Guthrie neighborhood, the statement said. While the shift might seem concerning, it's suggested that the FBI's move back to Phoenix is logical given the substantial video evidence they need to analyze. The decision to return to Phoenix doesn't really surprise me, said one neighbor. I don't think it significantly affects the investigation. Maybe there's more for them to do there when they're working on the case. As for the Pima County Sheriff's Office, I've been informed they will still have several detectives working on the case, said the neighbor, although it may not be as many as before. In light of the situation, the Guthrie family has taken proactive steps, reportedly installing a new security system in the 84-year-old's home after the FBI's final sweep. For the latest crime and justice news, follow Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcasting app. With this Crime Alert, I'm Nicole Parton.