Mass shooter behind deadly Austin rampage had potential terrorism ties, FBI says

FBI officials said Sunday the gunman who killed two people and wounded more than a dozen others in a bar in Austin, Texas, had potential ties to terrorist groups.

Austin authorities said the gunman opened fire on bar patrons along a crowded party strip from his car and then on foot before police shot him dead around 2 a.m. Sunday.

Fourteen people were injured in the shooting, police said, with three of the victims still in critical condition. Officials have yet to share the shooter’s identity beyond saying he was a man.

“Obviously, it’s still way too early in the process to determine the exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” said Alex Doran, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio field office.

Mr. Doran did not elaborate on what those indicators were. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force had been called to assist the investigation from the start.

Officials familiar with the investigation said detectives found a Quran in his car, according to the New York Post.

A photo of the suspect obtained by Fox News showed a dark-skinned gunman wearing a sweatshirt that said “Property of Allah.” The suspect was also reportedly wearing a T-shirt underneath the hoodie that had the Iranian flag on it.

Sunday’s attack in Austin happened less than 24 hours after the U.S. and Israel carried out a joint military strike in Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, and numerous other top government officials.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the gunman drove to Buford’s Backyard Bar on Sixth Street as the popular haunt began emptying for closing time.

“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,” Chief Davis said.

The suspect then zipped down the street, hopped out of his car and used a rifle to shoot people on the sidewalk, the chief said.

Police already patrolling the city’s nightlife corridor shot and killed the gunman less than a minute after his attack began.

“Our hearts go out to the people that are victims of this and I want to reiterate my thanks to our public safety officers and officials that so rapidly were on the scene, they definitely saved lives,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said during a morning press conference.