Panic erupted outside a busy Austin bar as shots rang out, sending crowds running for safety. By the time the chaos ended, two people had lost their lives.In the early hours of Sunday, March 1, 2026, a gunman opened fire on people gathered outside a bar in Austin, Texas, killing two and injuring 14 others. Police confronted and fatally shot the suspect at the scene, the Associated Press reported.Federal authorities are investigating the shooting as a possible act of terrorism. Witnesses later described the chaos as it unfolded, and public officials responded in the hours that followed.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the suspect drove past the bar several times before stopping and opening fire from his SUV at people gathered on the patio and near the entrance.Authorities said he used both a pistol and a rifle during the attack. He then got out of the vehicle carrying a rifle and continued shooting at pedestrians along the street until officers reached the intersection and shot him dead, ending the rampage. Three victims remained in critical condition Sunday morning.For many outside that night, the shift from celebration to chaos happened in seconds.Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old senior, said he had been at the bar with friends earlier that night.He described the venue as tightly packed with college students, many believed to be from the University of Texas (UT), with hundreds standing shoulder to shoulder and enjoying their evening before the shooting began.About 10 minutes before the first shots, Comeaux left to grab pizza from a food truck across the street. At first, people nearby thought the noise was fireworks or a motorcycle.