David Montgomery shares emotional goodbye to Lions after Texans trade

TheDetroit Lionshave handedDavid Montgomerya one-way ticket out of the Motor City.

USA TODAY Sports

It came a week ahead of the unofficial start of free agency, when theLions agreed to trade the running back to the Houston Texans on March 2. The move ends a three-year run in Detroit, where Montgomery starred alongsideJahmyr Gibbsas part of arguably the league's best backfield duo – officially known as "Sonic and Knuckles."

Hours after the news broke, Montgomery bid farewell to the Lions in anemotional tribute posted to his Instagram:

"It's hard to find the right words for a goodbye like this," Montgomery wrote. "Detroit has never just been a location to me – it's been a community. And you all have been more than supporters or a team. You've been steady hands, loud cheers, honest feedback, and quiet strength when I needed it most.

"You believed in me when things were uncertain. You stood beside me through challenges. You showed up – consistently, fiercely, unapologetically. There is something special about the people here. The resilience. The loyalty. The way you don't just support someone – you ride with them. I have felt that from each of you, and I will never take that lightly.

"This isn't goodbye because something ended. It's goodbye because something grew. And growth sometimes calls us forward. Please know this: Everything I do next carries a piece of Detroit with it. The work ethic. The edge. The heart. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for walking this chapter with me.

"I'm beyond grateful – and I'll always be proud to say I was shaped by this city and by you."

Gibbs also shared a post on social media, posting a photo of Sonic and Knuckles walking away from one another, crying. He captioned it with a broken-heart emoji.

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1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana <p style=2. New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=6. Cleveland Browns – OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=9. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Spencer Fano, Utah

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=10. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=11. Miami Dolphins – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – WR Denzel Boston, Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=14. Baltimore Ravens – DL Caleb Banks, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – WR Makai Lemon, USC

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=17. Detroit Lions – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=18. Minnesota Vikings – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=19. Carolina Panthers – DT Peter Woods, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – OLB/DE T.J. Parker, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=22. Los Angeles Chargers – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 25. Chicago Bears – S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon 26. Buffalo Bills – WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame 27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah 28. Houston Texans – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson 29. Los Angeles Rams – QB Ty Simpson, Alabama <p style=30. Denver Broncos – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=31. New England Patriots – DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 32. Seattle Seahawks – RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

NFL mock draft: First-round projection following the scouting combine

Montgomery's workload took a major hit in 2025 as the running back posted a career-low 158 carries, sparking trade rumors ahead of the offseason.

General manager Brad Holmes told reporters at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that Montgomery's future with the Lions was "fluid."

"We'd love to have him. Kind of want to put last year in the rearview and just move forward," Holmes said at a Feb. 24 media availability. "But obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. So those conversations are still fluid and we'll just kind of see how it goes."

On March 1,Montgomery addressed the rumors on social media after ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reportedthe running back wanted out of Detroit. He dismissed them, but didn't elaborate. He previously mentioned his desire to stick around with the Lions.

Ahead of Super Bowl 60, Montgomery told USA TODAY Sports that he hoped to return to Detroit in 2026.

"I sure hope so," Montgomery said, when asked if he was confident about a return to the Lions. "I love the Lions, I love the team, I love the city of Detroit. I would love to be there, but it's in the air so I'm just ready and waiting for the ride."

Now that ride has taken him to Houston, where he figures to sit atop theTexans' running back depth chart heading into the 2026 season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:David Montgomery shares goodbye post to Lions after trade to Texans

David Montgomery shares emotional goodbye to Lions after Texans trade

TheDetroit Lionshave handedDavid Montgomerya one-way ticket out of the Motor City. It came a week ahead of the...
Warriors center Porzingis misses 5th straight game with illness coach Steve Kerr calls

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State center Kristaps Porzingis is still dealing with a medical issue that has sidelined him for a week and a half.

Associated Press Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis (7) gestures after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, shoots against Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis, top, smiles while wrestling for the ball with Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) as referee Brandon Schwab watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis, top middle, hugs Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard as Celtics guard Derrick White (9) hugs Warriors guard Gary Payton II after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis (7) talks with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Celtics Warriors Basketball

"It's a little mysterious," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before his team hosted the Los Angeles Clipper on Monday night. "We're obviously working with him and hoping that he can get some clarity and he can kind of break through and get to a point to where he's consistently healthy. But that's something that the medical staff is working hard on with him."

Porzingis had returned to practice Friday and was listed as questionable for Saturday's home loss to the Lakers, then missed his fifth straight game Monday with an illness. It's unclear if he will travel for the team's upcoming three-game road trip.

Kerr said he spoke with Porzingis earlier Monday.

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"We had a good chat. He's doing fine," Kerr said. "He's obviously wanting to be back and wanting answers and we'll keep supporting him."

The 7-foot-2 big man from Latvia made his Warriors debut Feb. 19 against his former Boston Celtics team after being acquired in a trade from Atlanta, but hasn't played since. He has appeared in just 18 games overall this season, averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/NBA

Warriors center Porzingis misses 5th straight game with illness coach Steve Kerr calls "mysterious"

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State center Kristaps Porzingis is still dealing with a medical issue that has sidelined him ...
Trump signals weeks of fighting in war with Iran | The Excerpt

On the Tuesday, March 3, 2026, episode of The Excerpt podcast:U.S. strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation have escalated into open conflict. The situation raises new risks for U.S. forces as tensions widen across the Middle East. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers joins The Excerpt to discuss how the strike came together and what the war in Iran means for the U.S.

USA TODAY

Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it.This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

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Dana Taylor:

With US and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by Tran's retaliation across the region, the US is now engaged in open conflict with Iran. The question many Americans are asking is are we once again at war in the Middle East?

Hello and welcome to USA TODAY's The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. What does an open conflict with Iran mean for the US in terms of military commitment and risk to American troops serving overseas? Joining me now to share her insights on what is quickly becoming a widening conflict in the Middle East is USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers. It's good to speak with you, Francesca.

Francesca Chambers:

Thanks, Dana.

Dana Taylor:

Francesca, for months, PresidentDonald Trumphas ratcheted up pressure on Iran for a new nuclear deal. Has a Trump administration made clear both why the US decided to strike Iran and why now?

Francesca Chambers:

In his first public remarks from the White House since the war began, President Trump said on Monday that the Trump administration tried to negotiate with Iran, that nuclear pact that you were referring to, but Iran did not heed the United States' warnings not to rebuild its nuclear programs. So in justifying the strikes, the president brought up both that nuclear program, but he also talked about Iran's ballistic missile program. He said that it was growing, quote, "rapidly and dramatically", and it posed a very clear colossal threat to the United States, as well as US bases and forces that are overseas. And he said, again, that Iran was making ballistic missiles that would soon have had the capability of reaching what he described as our beautiful America in those remarks.

Now, experts have pushed back on some of the things that President Trump has said in the last few days, as well as what US officials have said in the lead up to these strikes, one of them, including being how soon it was that Iran could have had ballistic missiles that could have reached the continental United States.

Dana Taylor:

The War Powers Act of 1973 was intended to limit unilateral military action by a president. Has Congress been briefed or asked for authorization?

Francesca Chambers:

So Secretary of State Marco Rubio first began briefing top congressional leaders on the day of the State of the Union addressed last week on Tuesday. We knew that already. That was publicly known. But then since then, US officials have said that Rubio also called top congressional leaders as a bipartisan group called the Gang of Eight, and it includes the House Speaker, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Senate Minority Leader, the House Minority Leader, as well as the chair and vice chair of both the House and Senate intelligence committees. They say that he called them to give them a heads-up on the strikes. He also spoke to armed services members, we're told. Then Secretary of State Marco Rubio also briefed those top congressional leaders on Monday on Capitol Hill. Rubio was expected on Tuesday to give a wider briefing to members of Congress.

Dana Taylor:

How did this strike come together, Francesca?

Francesca Chambers:

So we heard from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a briefing at the Pentagon on Monday talk about this, as well as General Dan Kane talk about this also. They said that the president on Friday at 3:38 PM gave the final green light for the strikes to go ahead. Now, we know that the Israelis struck first, and then the United States came in swiftly behind the Israelis to conduct these strikes. This was a massive operation on the US side that involved fighter jets as well as B2 bombers. It had refueling stations involved in this as well. This was something that they detailed during that initial briefing that they gave at the Pentagon.

Dana Taylor:

This is, of course, a rapidly developing story, but what's been the impact on US bases, including, of course, the four American lives lost over the weekend?

Francesca Chambers:

Iran has struck at least six US military facilities in the Middle East, including Bahrain, Iraq, UAE, also Kuwait. Now, Kuwait is where those American service members that you refer to before died. Originally, that number was three, and then one of them who was injured ultimately ended up perishing as well. And the president, when he spoke about this on video over the weekend, it was a video address that was taped from his Mar-a-Lago estate and then put out on social media, he said that sadly, there will likely be more. He said, but that's the way that it is.

Dana Taylor:

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint strikes. President Trump is calling on Iranians to overthrow their government. Is it clear who the US would like to see lead Iran?

Francesca Chambers:

Not at this time. When President Trump has taken a number of calls from reporters over the last few days, in addition to the video addresses and the public remarks he's made, he specifically noted that the folks that the United States may have had in mind to take over Iran were also killed in the strikes. Dozens of Iranian leaders at this point, more than 40, were killed in those strikes. And so Trump has said that he doesn't actually have anybody in mind at this point to lead Iran, although he has said that that is up to the people of Iran. And with respect to the protestors, he said that, "I made a promise to you and I have fulfilled that promise. The rest will be up to you," but he said that the United States would be there to back the protestors. And we heard him say initially after he confirmed the strikes that this would likely be their best opportunity in generations to reclaim their government.

Dana Taylor:

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President Trump and military leaders have said Operation Epic Fury, what this is called, is expected to last for weeks, not days. Is it clear really how long this will last?

Francesca Chambers:

We've heard the president talk about four to five weeks. He's also said that it's ahead of schedule. He originally thought, he said, that it would be about four weeks as his timeline, but also, we've heard Hegseth and other officials say that if it has to go longer, then it will go longer. But they're also saying that they don't expect this to be something that's going to last for years. That's how it's different, they're saying, than something like the Iraq War, for instance. They don't envision, as Hegsuth said during his briefing, putting 200,000 boots on the ground and spending 20 years there. At the same time, they're also not completely and totally ruling out boots on the ground, saying they'll do whatever is necessary. We should also note that an Iranian official who is a top national security advisor there has said that they are ready for a prolonged war, this person said, if that's what's needed to take place.

Dana Taylor:

Well, sticking with the remaining Iranian leadership and their response, what's the status of talks between the US and Iran? Is any diplomacy taking place right now?

Francesca Chambers:

So Oman had originally been mediating those talks between the United States and Iran, those nuclear negotiations, and had said over the weekend that they thought that there was still room to pull this back through diplomacy. But the US officials who spoke to reporters over the weekend said that they had determined that Iran was playing games in these negotiations. Essentially, they were trying to buy time, as the US has put it, to try to rebuild that nuclear program and to work on their ballistic missile program, and eventually, the Trump administration just determined that they couldn't afford to wait any longer. That's their rationale for it. Meanwhile, the Iranian government has said that they were in those talks in good faith, but now the remaining leadership, as you referred to, the negotiator that the National Security Advisor was referring to before, says that they will not be negotiating with the United States.

Dana Taylor:

As you noted, we've now seen strikes on multiple Arab countries, including Lebanon. Has the administration addressed concerns about destabilizing the Middle East, and really, where do our allies stand here?

Francesca Chambers:

So some of the United States' allies have been quick to point out that they weren't involved in these strikes, particularly the European countries came out, France, Germany, Britain. They were all part of that original nuclear pact that the United States under Trump's First Administration pulled out of, and they've called for a return to these negotiations in the past. But meanwhile, while Britain has said that it wasn't part of these strikes initially, it's now allowing the United States to be able to use its bases in the region to conduct operations if need be.

Dana Taylor:

Francesca, as we saw with Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, the Trump administration appears to have no qualms about targeting heads of state when they deem it necessary. Has the killing of Khamenei intensified debates about the legality of doing so?

Francesca Chambers:

Well, this goes also back to what we were discussing before about Congress and Democrats in particular wanting the administration to get their permission to do this. They're forcing a War Powers vote this week in the House of Representatives. They'd like to see one in the United States Senate as well, but the US has essentially said, by the way, in response to just all of these things that this operation in Iran shows that the United States and President Trump are very serious about using military power when they feel that they need to. They've pointed in the last few weeks both to what happened in Venezuela, as you're referring to, as well as those strikes that took place last summer to show and say that when President Trump warns that he could take military action, that he's not playing around.

Dana Taylor:

How has the President's Party responded to the strikes in Iran and this widening conflict in the Middle East? Are Republicans firmly behind the President?

Francesca Chambers:

I think Congress for the most part has been very supportive. This is largely broken down along party lines, Republicans in support and Democrats against, but there are some Republicans such as Rand Paul, who's been a huge proponent of voting for wars and non-interventionism, calling for the President to come and ask Congress for their permission. And then of course, you have folks like former representative, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who broke with the President over the fact that she said that he was more focused on foreign policy and not enough on affordability issues. She left Congress earlier this year while she was fighting with President Trump over these things. She is one of the people who was speaking out at great length over the weekend to essentially say that the president and vice president and administration campaigned on no more foreign interventionism, no more endless wars, and then they've also taken new strikes just in the last two months in both Venezuela as well as Iran.

There are other folks in the president's party such as television personality, Tucker Carlson, who has said over the weekend essentially that he described it in an ABC News interview as absolutely disgusting and evil. So certainly, the GOP isn't completely unified. And I would also note that the American public too, when you look at polling on this, it also shows that there are some Republicans who don't support this. In a Reuters poll over the weekend, 43% of Americans disapproved of the strikes and 29% weren't sure, but 27% said that they approved of them, so that was roughly one in four Americans who approve of the strikes overall.

Dana Taylor:

What will you be watching for over the next few days, Francesca, whether that be from President Trump or lawmakers on the Hill?

Francesca Chambers:

Sure. So we'll be keeping an eye on these War Powers resolution votes that I was discussing before, but also what President Trump continues to say about this. He has taken questions in terms of taking some calls from reporters, but those addresses that he gave, the initial video addresses he gave, were recorded without recorders in the room and sent out over his social media accounts. He delivered the remarks on Monday that I was talking about on this issue, but he didn't take questions then, and certainly he's taken questions in terms of reporters calling him on the phone and asking the president about this, but absolutely, we'll be looking to see what other opportunities that there are to ask the president and the administration, including those defense officials who also took questions at a briefing on Monday, about, again, some of the things we're discussing here, how long that they expect at this point that this is going to last, who they expect that the leadership of Iran is going to be at this point.

Dana Taylor:

Francesca Chambers is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. Thank you so much for coming back on The Excerpt, Francesca.

Francesca Chambers:

Thanks so much. I appreciate it.

Dana Taylor:

Thanks to our senior producer, Kaely Monahan for her production assistance. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. I'll be back tomorrow morning with another episode of USA TODAY's The Excerpt.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:How did the US strike in Iran come together? | The Excerpt

Trump signals weeks of fighting in war with Iran | The Excerpt

On the Tuesday, March 3, 2026, episode of The Excerpt podcast:U.S. strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation have esca...
Jalisco cartel leader 'El Mencho' buried in a golden casket in a Guadalajara cemetery

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — The leader of theJalisco New Generation Cartelwas buried Monday in a shiny golden casket with enormous flower wreaths and a large military presence in the state that gave name to one of Mexico's most powerful cartels.

Associated Press People follow the hearse carrying the remains of who authorities identify as the late Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, alias A car carrying the remains of who authorities identified as the late Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, alias A funeral worker opens the door of a car carrying the remains of who authorities identified as the late Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, alias A police officer escorts the car carrying the remains of who authorities identified as the late Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, alias Mexican army soldiers patrol outside Recinto de Paz cemetery in Guadalajara, Mexico, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)

Mexico Cartel Leader Death

A federal official confirmed thatNemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," was buried in a cemetery in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city. Dozens of people accompanied the funeral procession, many carrying black umbrellas on a sunny day and with a band playing Mexican regional music known as banda.

The official who discussed the location requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case. The Attorney General's Office declined to confirm the location of El Mencho's burial for "security reasons."

There had been stepped up security since Sunday around a funeral home where large flower wreaths had been arriving without a name. Some did include the image of a rooster in flowers and Oseguera Cervantes was sometimes called the "Lord of the Roosters."

The Mexican army killed Oseguera Cervantes just over a week ago while attempting to capture him. He died from multiple bullet wounds, according to the death certificate obtained by The Associated Press.

The killing set off violence in some 20 states. The death certificate fits with a description of the operation to capture Oseguera Cervantes given by Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla, who had said thatthe cartel leader and two bodyguards had been badly woundedin a gunfight with soldiers outside a home in Tapalpa, Jalisco. The three died en route to a hospital.

The certificate specified that Oseguera Cervantes had bullet wounds to his chest, abdomen and legs.

His body was taken to Mexico City where an autopsy was performed and then thebody was turned over to his familyon Saturday, the Attorney General's Office said in a brief statement.

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The death certificate also notes that Oseguera Cervantes was to be buried, standard practice in cases of violent deaths to allow for additional forensic evidence to be gathered if needed in the future. The document did not say where the burial would take place.

Authorities' security concerns surrounding the burial location are well founded. Oseguera Cervantes' killing set offretaliation by the cartel in numerous states. More than 70 people died between the military operation and the violence that followed. The government has said that security operations continue against other high-ranking members of the cartel.

It customary for an air of mystery to surround the burials of drug lords in Mexico, something their supporters take advantage of to try to elevate them to legend. Within hours of El Mencho's death there were already ballads, known as narcocorridos, written about his killing.

In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel — an old associate of El Mencho — and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.

There was the drug lord who was famously killed twice, Nazario Moreno, leader of the violent and pseudo religious Knights Templar cartel who authorities said was killed in 2010 only to kill him for real in 2014.

Sometimes the bodies disappear, like in the case of Heriberto Lazcano, leader of the fearsome Zetas, whose body was stolen in 2012. Or they die under bizarre circumstances, like Amado Carrillo Fuentes, "Lord of the Skies," who died in a botched plastic surgery.

Sánchez reported from Mexico City. AP writer María Verza in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Jalisco cartel leader 'El Mencho' buried in a golden casket in a Guadalajara cemetery

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — The leader of theJalisco New Generation Cartelwas buried Monday in a shiny golden casket with ...
Death toll rises to 3 as officials probe whether Austin mass shooting motivated by Iran strikes

Early Sunday morning, just as bars along Austin's bustling Sixth Street were winding down for the night, a barrage of gunfire tore through the popular entertainment district in the heart of Texas' capital, leaving three people dead and more than a dozen others injured.

CNN Members of the FBI and local law enforcement investigate outside of Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden on Sunday in Austin, Texas. - Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Ryder Harrington, 19, and Savitha Shan, 21, were killed in the shooting, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference Monday. Police initially provided different ages.

A third person, 30-year-old Jorge Pederson, has also died as a result of the shooting, the police department said Monday, after authorities said one person injured was expected to be taken off life support.

While the motive for the deadly onslaught has not been confirmed, authorities are investigating whether the suspect - who was fatally shot by police - was inspired by this weekend'sUS and Israeli strikeson Iran, multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the case said.

Investigators are also digging into the man's criminal history and his mental health records, sources said.

Here's what we know:

Was Iran a factor?

The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, had not previously been on the radar of Austin police or the FBI, officials said Monday.

The suspect was wearing a shirt with an Iranian flag design on it underneath a hoodie printed with "Property of Allah," a law enforcement official told CNN.

This image of Ndiaga Diagne was captured by a Tesla camera on the night of the shooting, a senior law enforcement source said. The image was initially obtained by Fox News. - Obtained by CNN

Investigators are looking for connections, pouring through "thousands of hours of video" and interviewing witnesses, Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio division, said at a news conference Monday.

The investigation also involves sorting through a high volume of both digital and physical evidence, so "we don't want to speculate or make any guesses at this stage of the investigation as to what that motive ultimately was," he said.

A bevy of law enforcement officers arrived Sunday at a home connected to the suspect in Pflugerville, a suburb of Austin,CNN affiliate KEYEreported. Investigators hauled boxes of items from the home and examined a car in the driveway, KEYE reported.

Authorities searching the home were likely investigating computers and phones to determine if the suspect read any propaganda or left any writings indicating what he intended to do, an official told CNN.

After the initial scene was secured, police called federal officials to "address concerns of potential terrorism," Austin's police chief said Monday. Local police will rely on their federal partners to investigate whether, for instance, his clothing helped point to a motive, Davis added.

Who is the suspect?

Diagne entered the United States on March 13, 2000, on a B‑2 tourist visa, a Department of Homeland Security official told CNN. In June 2006, he adjusted his status to lawful permanent resident based on marriage to a US citizen. He naturalized on April 5, 2013.

Ndiaga Diagne. - Austin Police Department

Diagne was originally from Senegal, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told CNN.

Upon arriving in the US, Diagne initially settled in New York and eventually made his way to Texas, although it's not clear when, the official said. He had multiple addresses in the Lone Star State, the official added.

In 2022, he was arrested in Texas on a charge of collision with vehicle damage, a misdemeanor offense, according to the DHS official.

Authorities are also reviewing past mental health encounters the suspect had while living in Texas, multiple law enforcement officials have said.

CNN has reached out to the Austin Police Department and the FBI's San Antonio division for more details.

How did the shooting unfold?

The violence erupted along a stretch of Sixth Street, known for its dense concentration of bars and live music venues. The vibrant corridor is a short drive from the University of Texas at Austin, which has 55,000 students.

Authorities first received a call about a man shooting from a large SUV outside Buford's Backyard Beer Garden, Davis said.

"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," Davis said.

The suspect then drove west on Sixth Street, parked his SUV and got out with a rifle, the police chief said. He then began shooting at people walking by, she said.

Authorities reached the suspect in less than a minute, Davis said.

"Our suspect was coming toward East Austin or East Sixth Street, officers were coming toward him, and at the intersection, he was shot and he was killed," Davis said.

Video from the scene shows law enforcement officers running toward the scene as people duck for cover. The deadly attack is among 56 mass shootings in the US so far this year, according to theGun Violence Archive.

Nathan Comeaux, a University of Texas senior, was celebrating two friends' 21st birthdays at Buford's when he left around 1:50 a.m. to grab some pizza from a food truck across the street, he told CNN. Shortly before 2 a.m., he heard the sound of 15 to 20 gunshots.

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"If either me or my friends had left a few minutes later, we would have been on the patio when the shooter was attacking Buford's," the 22-year-old recalled Monday.

After the initial barrage of gunfire ended, "I took out my phone to capture what was going on," Comeaux said. "I saw the suspect engage with the cops down the street from me. And then he was taken out by the police."

FBI agents investigate at the scene of a mass shooting in downtown Austin, Texas, on Sunday. - Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Who are the victims?

Harrington, the 19-year-old killed, was a former Texas Tech student, the university said in a statement toCNN affiliate KCBD.

His older brother, Reed Harrington, penned an warm tribute onFacebook, writing "I love you more than you will ever know. No matter how old you get, or how much taller than me you are, you will always be my little brother."

"Watching the man he had become, and seeing all the lives he touched, leaves me certain that this world was robbed of a great future," he said in the post, alongside photos of his brother.

Ryder Harrington identified as a victim in Austin mass shooting. - Reed Harrington/Instagram

Beta Theta PisaidHarrington was a member of its chapter at Texas Tech, joining the fraternity in the fall of 2024.

It described Harrington as someone who "had a rare ability to truly enjoy life to make people laugh, to make moments feel bigger, and to make ordinary days unforgettable," according to a Facebook post. "He made the world around him better simply by being in it." The fraternity held a candlelight vigil Monday night.

"We are saddened to learn of the tragic incident in Austin that resulted in the loss of life," Texas Tech said in a statement,KCBDreported. "Harrington had previously been enrolled at Texas Tech University, most recently during the Fall 2025 semester, but was not enrolled this semester. Our thoughts are with Ryder's family, friends, and all those affected by this devastating situation."

Savitha Shan identified as a victim in Austin mass shooting. - Instagram

Shan, the 21-year-old killed, was a student at the University of Texas at Austin, according to her LinkedIn account.

UT Austin President Jim Davis confirmed a UT student was "among those who lost their lives," without naming Shan directly, but described her as the "child of loving parents" and "a loyal friend to many."

"It is devastating, and I know all of us are grieved by this horrible news and we will remember her," Davis wrote in a statement Monday.

A number of other UT students were hurt in the shooting, he said, and some of the injuries are "very serious."

While the shootings happened off campus, students "will see increased patrols this week across the University and in the West Campus neighborhood," Davis warned.

A community vigil will be held Tuesday evening on the UT campus, the university's Students Demand Action chapter said.

Jorge Pederson identified as a victim in Austin mass shooting. - Med City Fighting Championships/

Pederson, the 30-year-old who authorities said died Monday, was described as a "beloved Minnesotan fighter" by mixed martial arts promoter Med City Fighting Championships.

"He was a fantastic fighter. One of our favorite people to interact with, throughout the years of our existence. Our condolences to all of his friends and family. It was an honor to have known him," MCFC said in aFacebookpost.

Authorities have not identified those injured and two people remain in critical condition, according to police.

Buford's Backyard Beer Garden expressed its condolences to the victims, writingon InstagramMonday: "These were young people with their whole lives ahead of them, and our thoughts and prayers are with every family impacted."

Paramedics in the area responded quickly, according to officials, as authorities praised emergency services for their quick response.

"We had more than 20 EMS resources that responded to the scene. We had all critical patients off the scene within 24 minutes, and all patients off the scene within 47 minutes," said Robert Luckritz, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services chief.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson offered his condolences to the victims and their families and praised first responders for their fearless, rapid response, saying "They definitely saved lives."

Gov.Greg Abbottcondemned the attack and directed the state's Department of Public Safety to increase patrols and law enforcement personnel in the Sixth Street area on weekends.

Abbott also warned the state would respond aggressively to anyone "using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans." He ordered the Texas Military Department to activate patrols to protect communities and critical infrastructure, including energy facilities and ports.

"This act of violence will not define us," he said, "nor will it shake the resolve of Texans."

This story has been updated.

CNN's Sarah Dewberry, Alisha Ebrahimji, Chris Boyette, Holmes Lybrand, John Miller and Karina Tsui contributed to this report

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