Austin 6th Street shooting: Second victim identified as UT Austin student

AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Police Department on Monday identified three victims killed in a deadly shooting at a downtown Austin bar.

Early Sunday morning, three people, including the gunman, were killed in the shooting at Buford’s. Fourteen others were injured.

A third victim died after being taken off life support on Monday, Austin police said. 

One of the victims killed was identified as 21-year-old Savitha Shan.

UT Austin student Savitha Shan

What we know:

Shan was a senior at the University of Texas at Austin. The 21-year-old was a dual-degree honor student who was heavily involved in campus organizations, including serving on the executive board of the Indian Students Association.

UT Austin President Jim Davis described Shan in a statement as "a child of loving parents, a loyal friend to many and a Longhorn preparing to change the world."

Longhorn assistant professor Russ Finney wrote on X that Shan was "one of our superstar students at UT Austin McCombs School of Business" and was preparing to start her career at a large professional services firm.

Shan's parents issued a statement through UT Austin, saying:

"It is with profound grief and immeasurable sorrow that we announce the tragic loss of our beloved daughter, Savitha, in the recent terrorist attack. She was 21 years of age and our only child. Our hearts are broken beyond words.

"Savitha was a bright, compassionate, and deeply caring young woman whose presence brought warmth, comfort, and joy to everyone who knew her. She was a dedicated student at The University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business, where she pursued her studies with determination and excellence. She believed in working hard, serving others, and living with integrity. Beyond her academic achievements, she generously gave her time through volunteer service and community involvement, always seeking to uplift those around her. She had a promising career ahead of her, having secured an opportunity to work at a major consulting firm.

"Her sudden and heartbreaking passing has left an irreplaceable void in our lives and in the lives of all who loved her. The loss feels unreal and profoundly unfair, and the space she once brightened now echoes with sorrow. As we grieve this unimaginable loss, we also keep in our hearts the other victims of this tragedy. We extend our sincere prayers to those who were injured and to their families, and we hope for their full and speedy recovery.

"We are deeply grateful to the first responders, medical teams, UT Austin administrators, community leaders, friends and loved ones who have surrounded us with compassion and support during this devastating time. Your kindness has been a source of strength.

"We respectfully request privacy as we mourn and begin to process this profound loss. We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love, prayers and condolences from the community."

Her parents said funeral services for Shan will be private and just for close family and friends to celebrate her life.

Latest details on 6th Street shooting

What they're saying:

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis spoke from Austin Police Headquarters on Monday.

Davis identified the two people killed by the gunman as 21-year-old Savitha Shan and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington during a press conference. 

Davis said that a person who was critically injured in the shooting was expected to be taken off life support and two others are still critical. 

Kelson Li, who previously spoke with FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis about the incident, identified the man on life support as his coworker Jorge Pederson.

On Monday night, Pederson, 30, died, police said.

Davis added that the guns used in the shooting were legally purchased in 2017. The gunman was also not on APD or the FBI's radar, according to law enforcement. 

Davis and the FBI say that it is still in the early hours of the investigation and that authorities are pouring over massive amounts of physical and digital evidence.

What you can do:

Austin police are still investigating the deadly shooting.

If anyone has any photo or video evidence, you are asked to upload it via the QR code found below.

Deadly 6th Street shooting

The backstory:

Three people, including the gunman, were killed, and 14 others were wounded in a mass shooting outside a bar in Austin's bustling Sixth Street entertainment district early Sunday morning that authorities said may have ties to terrorism.

It began with a call to police around 1:40 a.m. about a man shooting at Buford's. When police arrived at the scene, they confronted a man with a gun and "returned fire, killing the suspect," said Austin police chief Lisa Davis Sunday.

The gunman has been identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalized US citizen born in Senegal who lived in Pflugerville. He was reportedly caught in images wearing a sweatshirt that read "Property of Allah" and had been wearing a T-shirt underneath with an Iranian flag on it.

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Davis said that the gunman had two weapons during the shooting, but never entered the bar; instead he drove by, fired outside the window with a pistol, then parked his vehicle nearby and got out with a rifle.

Davis said an explosives team was called in to evaluate the gunman's vehicle after investigators found concerning items inside. No bombs were found, however.

Crime and Public SafetyDowntownTexasAustinMass ShootingsUT Austin