Three people were killed and more than a dozen others were injured when a gunman opened fire on West Sixth Street early Sunday morning.
AUSTIN, Texas — We are learning more about the victims of Sunday morning’s mass shooting on West Sixth Street in Downtown Austin.
The Austin Police Department confirmed that 30-year-old Jorge Pederson was taken off life support on Monday. Earlier Monday, Austin police identified two other people killed as 19-year-old Ryder Harrington and 21-year-old Savitha Shan. University of Texas President Jim Davis said Shan was a student at UT.
More than a dozen people were injured when the gunman opened fire outside Buford’s bar around 2 a.m. Police killed the suspected gunman. At least two remain in critical condition, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said. A total of 14 patients were located at the scene and taken to nearby hospitals. At least four of the 14 patients have been released from local hospitals, according to St. David’s HealthCare.
“I cannot imagine the grief, pain and loss these families are feeling today, and my heart is with them,” Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said.
Savitha Shan
Shan grew up in Austin and was a dual degree student at the University of Texas at Austin. Her family released a statement on Tuesday regarding her death.
“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. For all media inquiries, we kindly ask that members of the press contact UT Media Relations. We will not be providing additional statements at this time.
Funeral services celebrating Savitha’s life will be held privately for close family and friends as we come together to remember and honor our beloved daughter. We request members of the media to give us our space and privacy during this time.”
UT President Jim Davis acknowledged Shan’s death in a campus-wide email on Monday.
“A child of loving parents. A loyal friend to many. A Longhorn preparing to change the world,” Davis wrote. “It is devastating, and I know all of us are grieved by this horrible news and we will remember her.”
Davis said several other students were injured in the shooting. Some, he said, have serious injuries, and the university community is “hoping for the best outcomes,” while others, he said, “are on the path to recovery.”
“I have met with many of these families and will continue to pray for them,” Davis said. “All of the families, friends, and loved ones affected by this tragedy will need time for grief and healing, and we offer them our full support.”
Ryder Harrington
Harrington, who is also from Austin, was a student at Texas Tech University from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025 but was not enrolled this semester.
As a student, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity on campus. In an Instagram post, the fraternity called Harrington “a beloved son, brother and friend whose kindness and presence touched countless lives.”
“From the moment he joined our brotherhood, he brought a light that was impossible to ignore,” the fraternity said. “Ryder had a rare ability to truly enjoy life, to make people laugh, to make moments feel bigger, and to make ordinary days unforgettable. If anyone embodied what it meant to live fully and love deeply, it was Ryder.”
The fraternity said Harrington’s “character and genuine spirit” made the “chapter stronger and our friendships deeper.”
“The energy he carried, the joy he spread, and the way he made everyone feel welcome are things we will never forget,” the fraternity said. “He made the world around him better simply by being in it.”
The fraternity held a candlelight vigil in Lubbock on Monday night to honor Harrington.
In a social media post, Harrington’s older brother, Reed Harrington, called him “the best mix” of the Harrington family.
“He had the wit of Ryan, the heart of Reagan, and the stubbornness of myself,” Reed Harrington wrote.
Reed Harrington called it “unfair to say the least” that his little brother only got 19 years on earth.
“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,” Reed Harrington wrote.
Later in the post, Reed Harrington told his brother he loved him “more than you will ever know,” thanked him for “being the best brother I could ever ask for” and said he can’t wait to see him again.
“I know I drove you crazy at times, but nothing will ever compare to getting to be your brother — getting to be your mentor (even when you didn’t want it), and getting to be there to pick you up when you were down (and humble you when you needed it),” Reed Harrington wrote. “I don’t think life will ever feel normal again. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do, but I know you will always be there to guide me and be my mentor.”
House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) said in a social media post that Ryder Harrington was the brother-in-law of a member of his staff. He asked Texans to join him in praying for the Harrington family.
“From all accounts, Ryder was exactly the kind of young man who made a difference without even trying—full of life, loyal to his friends, proud to be a Red Raider and a Texan, and someone who showed up for the people around him,” Burrows said.
Jorge Pederson
In a Facebook post on Monday, MCFC – Med City Fighting Championships in Rochester, Minnesota, paid tribute to Pederson, describing him as a “beloved Minnesotan fighter.”
“Jorge was one of the people on our first card. Immediately after meeting him, both owners and people that work our events all immediately loved him,” the post said. “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.”
After the weekend shooting, some students on the UT campus said it sparked new fears about gun violence and safety while out in public.
The university said campus police are increasing patrols across the university and in the West Campus neighborhood moving forward.
The UT Dean of Students Office announced that a student government is hosting a candlelight vigil for the campus community on Wednesday night. The university said it will be a “moment of remembrance, solidarity and reflection.” It will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday on the Main Mall.