3 Hero Austin Cops Who Stopped Deadly Bar Shooting Face Grand Jury

Policy instituted by district attorney requires all officer-involved shootings to be reviewed by grand jury.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 8:05pm

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Three Austin police officers who shot and killed a gunman during a deadly shooting rampage at a crowded bar are expected to face a grand jury investigation, according to their lawyer. The officers bravely confronted and stopped the shooter, but a new policy instituted by the Travis County District Attorney requires all officer-involved shootings to be presented to a grand jury, even in cases where the officers' actions are deemed justified.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and criminal justice reform efforts, as well as concerns about transparency and due process in the grand jury system. The officers' lawyer argues the process lacks impartiality and could lead to unjust indictments of officers who were acting to protect public safety.

The details

The three unnamed Austin police officers shot and killed Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese immigrant, after he opened fire outside a crowded bar, killing three people and wounding 13 more. The officers' lawyer, Doug O'Connell, says they will be required to testify before a grand jury due to a policy instituted by Travis County District Attorney José Garza. O'Connell argues the grand jury process is one-sided and lacks transparency, claiming the DA has obtained past indictments of officers through this method.

  • The shooting incident occurred on an unspecified date in 2026.
  • District Attorney José Garza instituted the policy requiring all officer-involved shootings to go before a grand jury when he took office in 2021.

The players

Doug O'Connell

A Texas lawyer whose firm has been hired to represent the three Austin police officers involved in the shooting.

José Garza

The Travis County District Attorney who instituted the policy requiring all officer-involved shootings to be presented to a grand jury.

Ndiaga Diagne

The Senegalese immigrant who opened fire outside the crowded bar, killing three people and wounding 13 more, before being shot and killed by the three Austin police officers.

Christopher Irwin

A detective with the Austin Police Association who stated there are currently no pending charges against the officers involved in the shooting.

The Wren Collective

A shadowy and influential left-wing Austin-based criminal justice reform group that lawyer Doug O'Connell says is behind District Attorney Garza's policy.

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What they’re saying

“The district attorney, at the direction of the Wren Collective, insists on presenting every officer involved shooting to a grand jury.”

— Doug O'Connell, Lawyer

“Grand juries in Texas are secret, meaning only the prosecutors are in the room. The prosecutors control what evidence the grand jury sees, and they have no obligation to present exculpatory evidence.”

— Doug O'Connell, Lawyer

“Every time an officer has to confront a violent criminal they may be indicted if the DA doesn't like their actions.”

— Doug O'Connell, Lawyer

“The DA has taken to bringing any officer involved in a shooting case before a grand jury to determine if charges are warranted.”

— Christopher Irwin, Detective, Austin Police Association

What’s next

The grand jury will decide whether to indict the three Austin police officers involved in the shooting.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and criminal justice reform efforts, as well as concerns about transparency and due process in the grand jury system. The mandatory review of officer-involved shootings, even in justified cases, raises questions about whether the policy is more about politics than public safety.