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Summary: Ryder Harrington, 19, and Savitha Shanmugasundaram, 21, were fatally shot early Sunday in Austin, Texas, outside Buford's Backyard Beer Garden on West Sixth Street. The gunman, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, fired from his vehicle with a pistol before continuing with a rifle on the sidewalk. Officials said they saw no red flags. Police killed Diagne in an exchange of gunfire, reports say.
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AUSTIN, Texas (DailyKenn.com) — Authorities identified a 19-year-old Texas Tech University student as one of two people killed in a mass shooting outside a popular bar here, as investigators probed the attack for possible ties to terrorism.
Ryder Harrington, a freshman and fraternity member known for his lively spirit, died early Sunday when a gunman opened fire on patrons and passersby near Buford's Backyard Beer Garden on West Sixth Street. The incident also claimed the life of Savitha Shanmugasundaram, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing dual degrees in management information systems and economics.
According to police reports, the shooting began around 1:40 a.m. when the suspect, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, drove past the bar and fired a pistol through his car window at the establishment and people outside. He then parked nearby, exited the vehicle armed with a rifle, and continued shooting at individuals on the sidewalk, officials said.
Responding officers arrived within minutes and engaged Diagne, who was killed in the exchange of gunfire, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated at a Monday news conference. No officers were injured. An explosives team later examined Diagne's vehicle after discovering suspicious items, but found no devices, authorities confirmed.
Bystanders described chaos as gunfire erupted in the bustling entertainment district, with some recounting how shots rang out suddenly amid the late-night crowd. One survivor told investigators the assailant targeted people indiscriminately, hitting those walking along the street and near the bar entrance. Another witness reported seeing Harrington collapse after being struck, with emergency responders performing CPR on site for an extended period before pronouncing him dead.
Diagne, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Senegal living in nearby Pflugerville, had no prior encounters with law enforcement that flagged him as a threat, federal officials said. The weapons used—a pistol and rifle—were traced to an illegal purchase in San Antonio in 2017, according to police.
No charges were filed as the suspect perished at the scene, but the FBI took over the investigation, citing potential terrorism links after recovering items like a sweatshirt reading "Property of Allah," a T-shirt with an Iranian flag, and a Quran from his car. A motive remained undetermined as of Monday, though officials noted recent international tensions involving U.S. actions against Iran.
The attack left 14 others wounded, with several in critical condition and one expected to succumb after being removed from life support, Davis added. It marked the seventh mass shooting in Texas this year, heightening concerns in a state grappling with gun violence.
Savitha Shanmugasundaram was of South Asian descent. She was an officer in UT's Raas Rodeo, a South Asian-style dance organization, strongly indicating Indian heritage. Her father's name, Muthian Shanmugasundaram (a biotech director in Boston), aligns with Tamil/South Indian naming conventions common among Indian-American families. No sources specify her exact ethnicity beyond this context, but the cultural and familial indicators point to Indian or South Asian background.
Community members mourned the losses with vigils and tributes. Harrington's Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Texas Tech held a candlelight gathering Monday evening in Lubbock, where brothers remembered him as a kind-hearted friend who brought joy to everyday moments. His brother, Reed Harrington, shared in a social media post that the world had lost a promising young man full of wit and heart. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, whose staff includes a relative of Harrington's, called for prayers and praised the student's loyalty and pride as a Texan.
UT President Jim Davis emailed the campus community, describing Shan as a devoted friend and aspiring world-changer, while meeting with affected families. Buford's owners expressed deep sorrow in a statement, extending condolences to those impacted. Flowers accumulated outside the bar as residents condemned the violence, with Shan's dance group, Raas Rodeo, urging unity against such senseless acts. Gov. Greg Abbott, familiar with Harrington's family, noted the personal toll and asked for statewide support in prayers.
Diagne's background showed no immediate red flags, officials reiterated, leaving Austin's vibrant nightlife scene shaken as police pledged enhanced patrols.
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