Jorge Pederson — Minnesota MMA Fighter Dies After Austin Bar Shooting

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Summary: Jorge Pederson, 30, perished from wounds inflicted during a deadly rampage outside a bustling bar in Austin, Texas, on March 2, 2026. The assailant, Ndiaga Diagne, 53, unleashed gunfire from his SUV before advancing on foot, claiming the lives of Pederson, Savitha Shanmugasundaram, 21, and Ryder Harrington, 19, while injuring 13 others. Police swiftly neutralized Diagne amid the chaos. Investigators probe potential ties to international tensions, reports say.

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AUSTIN, Texas (DailyKenn.com) — Authorities confirmed Tuesday that a 30-year-old aspiring professional fighter from Minnesota succumbed to injuries from a weekend mass shooting outside a downtown bar, marking the third fatality in an attack that left more than a dozen others wounded.

Jorge Pederson, who had relocated to Austin just weeks earlier for a new sales job while pursuing his mixed martial arts career, died Monday after family members decided to remove him from life support, according to police and relatives. The incident began shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday when a 53-year-old man, identified as Ndiaga Diagne, circled the block multiple times in a large SUV near Buford's Backyard Beer Garden on West Sixth Street. Police said Diagne first fired a pistol from the vehicle at patrons on the sidewalk and inside the venue, then parked, got out, and continued the assault with a rifle.

Responding officers arrived within a minute of the initial emergency calls and fatally shot Diagne after he confronted them, authorities reported. No other suspects have been identified, and investigators, including the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, are probing whether the attack stemmed from recent U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran. Diagne, a U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, wore clothing featuring an Iranian flag and the phrase "Property of Allah," police noted, though they stressed the motive remains under review. The firearms were purchased legally years earlier, officials added.

Two other victims died at the scene: 21-year-old Savitha Shan, a University of Texas at Austin student set to graduate with dual degrees and begin a career at a major firm, and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, a Texas Tech University freshman remembered by his fraternity for his kindness. Among the 13 injured were several UT Austin students, some in serious condition, school officials said.

Eyewitnesses described a sudden shift from a lively night to terror. One survivor, who had stepped away from the bar moments before, recounted hearing shots ring out and rushing back amid screams and confusion, concerned for a friend inside. "It turned into complete pandemonium with everyone in hysteria," he told local media. A University of Texas senior nearby captured video of the gunfire and the suspect's encounter with police, saying he arrived at the venue around midnight on what started as a typical evening out. Pedicab operators stationed across the street recalled the abrupt eruption of violence during the usual closing-time crowd surge, with one noting how a celebratory atmosphere dissolved into chaos seconds after he exited a nearby establishment.

No criminal charges are expected since the shooter was killed, but law enforcement continues to execute search warrants at properties linked to Diagne to determine if he acted alone.

In Austin and beyond, the deaths prompted grief and calls for unity. Pederson's mother described him as a strong, vibrant young man deeply connected to his fighting community, while his cousin called him kind, funny, and charismatic. Coaches and teammates from Minnesota's Med City Fighting Championships praised him as a beloved figure who brought laughter and respect to the gym, with one trainer noting that "everyone who met him liked him instantly." An online fundraiser for Pederson's funeral expenses quickly exceeded its goal, raising over $14,000. University leaders expressed sorrow over Shan's loss, highlighting her as a promising talent, and Harrington's school community voiced shock. Local officials urged residents to support the affected families and check on one another in the aftermath.

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