Video from deadly Austin bar shooting released by police
Video from deadly Austin bar shooting released by police
Texas law enforcement has made public video and audio footage from Saturday’s incident at a downtown Austin beer garden, capturing the instant chaos unfolded outside the establishment. The recording reveals the gunman engaging targets, alongside the three officers who returned fire. The ongoing investigation has seen the Travis County District Attorney, José Garza, conclude his examination of the officers’ conduct in a letter shared with NBC News.
DA closes review, rules out charges
Garza asserted in his letter that the officers acted appropriately during a mass casualty event, where the shooter was employing unlawful deadly force. “At the time of the incident, the subject was actively using lethal force, and the officers were responding to an active threat,” he stated, dismissing any intention to pursue legal action. The decision follows public debate and criticism, including remarks from Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who called the situation “INSANE” on X.
“This…is…INSANE,” Cruz wrote Tuesday, expressing skepticism about the officers’ potential accountability.
Video details critical moments
Footage from a parked car highlights the shooter’s movements as he targets a pedestrian. Body camera clips from the two officers depict the moment the assailant was shot and fell, alongside bystanders seeking shelter from the gunfire. Security recordings show the attacker opening fire before police intervened.
Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock noted that while no charges were filed, the DA might still present the case to a grand jury, where outcomes could be influenced by the district attorney’s control over the process. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, also a Republican, defended the officers, stating on X, “These police officers are heroes who saved lives. Whatever the DA does, I will have the final say in the fate of these police officers.”
“These officers are heroes, and it should go without saying that my office is not seeking any charges and would not seek charges,” Garza emphasized in a separate statement, accusing opponents of spreading “false” claims for political gain.
Investigation into motive continues
The shooter, identified as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a Senegalese national and U.S. citizen residing in Pflugerville, was seen wearing a sweatshirt with “Property of Allah” and an Iranian flag-themed shirt, as reported by four law enforcement sources. Authorities are still determining the possible motive behind the attack, which occurred a day after U.S. military strikes against Iran.
Matt Lavietes, an NBC News reporter, contributed to the coverage of this event.
