Austin Police Release Body-Cam Footage, 911 Audio In Terror Probe

Authorities in Austin, Texas, released new information during a planned press conference on Thursday — including 911 calls made during the March 1 shooting and footage from body-worn cameras — and gave an update on the victims of the deadly rampage.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said that some of the video had been deemed “too graphic” to release to the general public — and warned that even the video that was going to be released would be “difficult to see.”

One video, captured from a parked vehicle, showed the suspect walking into frame, carrying a rifle that Davis described as an “AR-15.” He raised the weapon to a firing position and drew down on a pedestrian, after which Davis stopped the video.

Another video showed the street view as bars began to close up for the night on Sunday and people spilled out into the street. Additional body cam footage from multiple officers showed them running toward the suspect — eventually engaging him in the firefight that killed him.

“As additional officers arrived, they were directed to the suspect’s location by brave people that were caught in this nightmare,” Davis said.

She also shared audio from two 911 calls. One was very difficult to understand, but someone could be heard on the line shouting at others to “get down. You need to go that way and get down … There has been a shooting … there are people dead over here. There have been multiple people shot. We need help right now.” Another caller said, “I heard six gunshots … there’s cops running towards it.”

The shooter was identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese immigrant, and he wore a shirt featuring the Iranian flag under a hoodie that read “Property of Allah.”

Three people have died so far as a result of the shooting. Ryder Harrington, 19, and Savitha Shan, 21, were pronounced dead at the scene and Jorge Pederson, 30, was taken to the hospital but later taken off life support. Two other victims who have not been identified remain in critical condition. A total of 19 were struck by gunfire during the attack.

“I don’t think any of us can imagine what these families are going through right now, the suffering that they are dealing with. Our hearts are with them,” Davis said.

She reiterated previous statements saying that Diagne had not previously been known to law enforcement, explaining that his last contact with authorities had been a welfare check in 2022 based on concerns about his mental health.

The shooting is being investigated as potentially linked to terrorism.