Austin 6th Street shooting: 3 dead; image shows apparent gunman as terror ties probed

Austin 6th Street shooting leaves 3 dead, including gunman

FOX 7 Austin teams provide an update on the mass shooting along Sixth Street that left three people, including the gunman, dead and may have ties to terrorism.

AUSTIN, Texas - Three people, including the gunman, were killed, and 14 others were wounded in a mass shooting outside a bar in Austin's bustling Sixth Street entertainment district early Sunday morning that authorities said may have ties to terrorism.

What we know

At a press conference early Sunday, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said police received a call around 1:40 a.m. for reports of a "male shooting" at Buford's, a beer garden in the city's busy entertainment district.

Austin shooting: Video shows officers surrounding apparent dead gunman

Viewer video shared with FOX 7 Austin shows officers surrounding the body of a gunman police say opened fire outside a part on 6th Street, killing 3 and wounded 14.

When police arrived at the scene, they confronted a man with a gun and then "returned fire, killing the suspect," Davis said.

According to EMS Chief Robert Luckritz, three people died at the scene and 14 people were taken to hospitals. Three of those injured were in critical condition.

Davis said that the gunman had two weapons during the shooting, but that he never entered the bar.

"He drove by, was firing outside the window with a pistol," Davis said. "Once he exited the vehicle after parking on Wood, he exited with a rifle at that point."

Austin Police say three people are dead and 14 injured after a shooting at Buford’s, a popular beer garden in the city’s entertainment district.

Davis said an explosives team was called in to evaluate the gunman's vehicle after investigators found concerning items inside. No bombs were found, however.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the National Guard to step up patrols in surveillance across the state as part of Operation Fury Shield.

DPS will also increase patrols in the Sixth Street district, Abbott said.

Image of apparent gunman surfaces

While investigators haven’t released the identity of the gunman, an image obtained by FOX News purportedly shows the shooter wearing a sweatshirt that reads "Property of Allah." 

According to the Associated Press, the gunman was wearing a T-shirt underneath the sweatshirt that had an Iranian flag on it.

Possible terrorism ties

A spokesman for the FBI said at a news conference later Sunday morning that the gunman appears to have ties to a terror group, but that is still under investigation.

"Obviously, it's still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism," the FBI spokesman said. "Again, it's still too early to make a determination on that, but we are investigating that very closely with our partners at the Austin Police Department."

Officials provide update on Austin mass shooting

Austin officials along with investigators from the FBI held a news conference Sunday morning about a mass shooting on 6th Street that left at least three people dead.

Abbott says Texas will respond with ‘overwhelming force’

Abbott said Sunday morning that the state is mourning and expressed a note of resilience. 

RELATED: TEXAS LEADERS REACT TO DEADLY AUSTIN MASS SHOOTING

"This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans," Abbott said in a written statement. "To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates