An Austin man named Clement was out celebrating a friend’s birthday near Buford’s bar on March 1 when a shooting broke out. He hid in a nearby bar’s bathroom, but staff allegedly forced him back outside into danger. He shared his story on TikTok, sparking a wide discussion online about how businesses should handle active shooter situations.
According to Bro Bible, local police confirmed that three people, along with the shooter, died in the incident. Details about the shooter and their motives are still coming out. Reports also noted that rescue efforts were slowed down by a Waymo vehicle that stopped and froze on the road.
Clement and his friends had started their night at The Rustic Tap on West 6th Street before moving to Buford’s. He said they were “taking down some shots, just talking with some other people, going on the dance floor.” After midnight, the group moved to Dirty Bill’s and then to Key Bar, right across the street from Buford’s.
Bar staff pushing people outside during an active shooting raises serious questions about emergency preparedness
Around 1:45 AM, Clement heard gunshots from Buford’s. Everyone either dropped to the ground or ran to the bathroom. His group got split up in the chaos, and Clement said everyone was “shock[ed]” because a shooting in that area was not something they expected.
Clement and a group of people took shelter in the bathrooms of a nearby bar. A bartender then told them to “Get out of my bar.” Clement told the bartender, “Dog, there’s an active shooter right outside.” He says the bartender eventually “put two and two together,” but still asked them to leave.
Clement recalled asking, “Dude, what? What? You want us to go run outside when there’s an active shooter outside?” A bouncer escorted them out, and they had to hide in a nearby parking garage until it was safe to leave. Texas has also seen other alarming incidents putting locals in danger, such as a recent auto repair shop that turned into a hostage situation.
Online reactions to Clement’s story were strongly critical of the bar’s alleged actions. One commenter wrote, “Smh shame on that bartender for not listening to you. Sorry I really hope yall stay safe and be vigilant and protect yourself.”
Another person reached out with a more personal touch, saying, “Hey hun. Momma here. You seem a little in shock or having some trauma. It’s so fresh so I’m sure you are. Make sure you have someone close to talk too. Mental health matters.” Texas has sadly seen other troubling stories involving young lives recently, including a case where a 23-year-old student’s final hours with an AI chatbot raised serious concerns.
A third commenter shared, “I’m so sorry. I’ve lived two blocks away for the last two years. It’s wild I wasn’t there. I walk that sidewalk daily. If you want to chat or walk that area I’m here. Had to go to Whole Foods today and took a different route but I’ll work my way back. Sending you love 💙”
Clement ended his video by saying, “I just feel so sorry for all the victims, for the families of those that lost their lives, to everyone who’s critically hurt. I pray you guys are OK, and I pray for your wellbeing and everything. No one, no one expected this.”
Published: Mar 6, 2026 07:53 am