AUSTIN, Texas — Three victims have been identified in connection to a shooting at a bar on Austin’s West 6th Street. They include 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, 21-year-old Savitha Shan and 30-year-old Jorge Pederson.
The shooting happened early Sunday at Buford’s, a popular bar among college students and young adults. Police said the shooter opened fire outside the crowded bar, striking people on the patio and in front of the bar. Over a dozen people were injured and the suspect, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was killed. The FBI is investigating the incident as a possible act of terrorism.
In light of the tragedy, victims’ family, friends and loved ones are honoring their lives with tributes and memorials.
University of Texas at Austin student Savitha Shan. (Courtesy of Savitha Shan’s LinkedIn)
Savitha Shan, 21
Savitha Shan was a dual major student at the University of Texas at Austin. In a post on X, UT professor Russ Finney called her “a light in the classroom” and one of the school’s “superstar students” at the McCombs School of Business.
“[S]he was set to graduate this May, and then she was on to start her career at a big professional services firm…Absolutely crushing to lose her,” the post said.
In a statement Monday, UT Austin President Jim Davis said Shan was a “child of loving parents. A loyal friend to many. A Longhorn preparing to change the world. It is devastating, and I know all of us are grieved by this horrible news and we will remember her.”
Davis added that the school will see increased police presence in light of the tragedy, as well as multiple support resources available to all.
UT’s Student Government announced in a post on Instagram that it will host a candlelight vigil “for a moment of remembrance, solidarity and reflection” on Wednesday, March 4 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the campus’ Main Mall.
Texas Tech University student Ryder Harrington. (Courtesy of Beta Theta Pi via Instagram)
Ryder Harrington, 19
Ryder Harrington was a student at Texas Tech University. According to the school, he had been enrolled as recently as the fall 2025 semester but was not taking classes this semester.
A Facebook post from his brother, Reed, described Ryder as “the best mix of all the Harrington crew. He had the wit of Ryan, the heart of Reagan, and the stubbornness of myself.”
In a tribute post to Instagram, his fraternity identified him as a member of the 2024 pledge class who “embodied what it meant to live fully and love deeply.”
“From the moment he joined our brotherhood, he brought a light that was impossible to ignore,” the post said.
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, a nonprofit organization also known as the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, is honoring both Harrington and Shan by planting trees in their honor in the Sam Houston National Forest. The foundation also launched a fundraiser in support of Shan’s family.
In a statement, the foundation said:
“Ryder and Savitha were students, dreamers, sons and daughters with futures ahead of them. Their absence leaves an immeasurable void not only in their families, but in their university communities and across Texas.
“Trees for Peace ensures their names are connected to something that grows, stands firm, and lives on. These memorial trees in Sam Houston National Forest will offer a place of reflection and quiet strength — a reminder that even in the face of senseless violence, love and remembrance endure.”
Jorge Pederson, 30
The Austin Police Department confirmed Monday evening that 30-year-old Jorge Pederson died from injuries sustained during the shooting.
A Spotfund fundraiser for Pederson described him as “an inspiration in Mixed martial arts to many.”
“His impact at the gym was that of a welcoming, warm and tough presence that changed many lives for the better,” the post read.
The Med City Fighting Championships, a mixed martial arts promotion group based in Rochester, Minn., also honored Pederson in a post on Facebook.