AUSTIN, Texas — Grief and shock have gripped the city after authorities identified three victims killed in a mass shooting in downtown Austin early Sunday morning, a violent attack that also left 13 others wounded.
During a Monday afternoon news conference, Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis confirmed the first two victims as Savitha Shan, 21, and Ryder Harrington, 19.
Shan, an Austin native, was pursuing a dual-degree program at the University of Texas at Austin, where friends say she was known for her intelligence, ambition, and warm spirit. Harrington was a member of the Fall 2024 Beta Theta Pi pledge class at Texas Tech University, remembered by peers as outgoing and full of promise.
Later Monday evening, Austin police announced a third victim had succumbed to his injuries. He was identified as Jorge Pederson, 30, a fighter with Med City Fighting Championships. Chief Davis said Pederson had been hospitalized in critical condition and was being taken off life support before his passing. Two additional victims remain hospitalized with critical injuries.
The Shooter and the Attack
Authorities identified the alleged gunman as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Chief Davis described how Diagne allegedly drove a large SUV around the block multiple times before turning on his hazard lights, rolling down his window, and opening fire on pedestrians with a pistol. He then parked, exited the vehicle, and continued shooting before officers on the scene confronted and fatally shot him.
Law enforcement officials said the suspect initially fired five to seven rounds before being engaged by police. Investigators are examining possible motives, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation noting a potential nexus to terrorism.
“There were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” said Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “Again, it’s still too early to make a determination on that.”
Sources told ABC News that the shooter wore clothing marked with “Property of Allah” and an Iranian flag design. Authorities are also investigating whether mental health issues played a role in the attack.
Diagne previously lived in San Antonio with his ex-wife and two children before relocating to Pflugerville. Officials said he first entered the United States in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa, became a lawful permanent resident in 2006 through marriage to a U.S. citizen, and was naturalized in 2013.
As Austin mourns the lives lost — Savitha Shan, Ryder Harrington, and Jorge Pederson — vigils are being planned across the city. Friends and family members are remembering three young lives filled with promise, now tragically cut short in an act of senseless violence that has left an entire community searching for answers.