Savitha Shanmugasundaram, Ryder Harrington, and Jorge Pederson die in fatal Austin, TX shooting
Fatal Austin, TX shooting death of Savitha Shanmugasundaram, Ryder Harrington, and Jorge Pederson – Obituary
Authorities in Austin have confirmed the identities of three victims who died after a mass shooting early Sunday morning in the city’s West Sixth Street entertainment district.
Police said the victims were 21-year-old Savitha Shanmugasundaram, a student at the University of Texas at Austin; 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, who previously attended Texas Tech University; and 30-year-old Jorge Pederson. The shooting also left fourteen other people injured.
Investigators say the gunfire broke out just before 2 a.m. outside Buford’s, a popular beer garden located along West Sixth Street in downtown Austin. According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the suspect, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, drove around the area several times before opening fire with a handgun. He later parked his SUV, exited the vehicle, and continued shooting toward the bar using a rifle.
Officers who were already nearby quickly responded to the scene and fatally shot Diagne during the confrontation.
Emergency medical crews arrived within minutes of receiving the call, and first responders, officers, and bystanders were seen providing CPR and other emergency care to victims at the scene before many were taken to nearby hospitals.
Shanmugasundaram and Harrington were pronounced dead following the attack. Pederson initially survived but was later removed from life support, raising the number of victims killed in the shooting to three.
Officials said the firearms used in the attack had been legally purchased in San Antonio. Investigators have not yet determined a motive, but the FBI’s San Antonio field office is examining the incident as a potential act of terrorism. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also assisting with the investigation.
Authorities noted that the gunman had not previously been on the FBI’s radar. At the time of the attack, he was reportedly wearing a shirt displaying the Iranian flag and an image of Iran’s former monarch, the Shah.
State and federal investigators continue to examine the case to determine whether the suspect acted alone or had contact with others prior to the attack. Officials say more information about the investigation will be released during a scheduled press conference later this week.