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Travis County DA Dispels “False” Claims, Clears Officers in Downtown Austin Shooting
AUSTIN, TX – Travis County District Attorney José Garza has definitively shut down “false” online speculation suggesting his office would pursue charges against Austin police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a gunman over the weekend. The incident, which occurred outside a popular downtown bar, left three dead and 14 injured.
In a letter addressed to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis on Wednesday, District Attorney Garza confirmed the closure of his review into the officers’ actions. “After the review, it is clear and indisputable that at the time the officers were responding to an active shooting in a mass casualty situation, and that the subject of the shooting was in the act of using unlawful deadly force,” Garza stated in the letter. He concluded, “For these reasons and based on the facts now known to us, we are closing our review and no action will be taken.”
The DA’s statement directly addresses a flurry of online criticism and speculation, including remarks from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who called the notion of charging officers “insane.”
Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock also voiced concerns on social media about the possibility of the case being presented to a grand jury. Texas Republican Gov.
Greg Abbott had also weighed in, calling the officers “heroes” and stating he would have the “final say” in their fate.
Garza further elaborated on Wednesday in a separate statement, unequivocally calling the claims “false” and politically motivated. “These officers are heroes, and it should go without saying that my office is not seeking any charges and would not seek charges,” he affirmed. “The accounts to the contrary are false, intentionally false, and are being peddled for obvious political purposes.”
The tragic shooting took place outside Buford’s, a well-known beer garden in downtown Austin. Authorities have identified the gunman as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Senegalese origin residing in Pflugerville. Law enforcement officials noted that Diagne was wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with “Property of Allah” and a shirt with an Iranian-flag theme at the time of the attack.
Investigators are actively working to ascertain a motive for the attack, including whether it constitutes an act of terrorism. The incident occurred just one day after the United States conducted strikes against Iran.
Austin police are expected to provide further updates to the public on the case Thursday afternoon.