The deceased, identified as Savitha Shan, an Austin native and a dual-degree senior at the University of Texas at Austin, was fatally shot when a gunman opened fire in the entertainment district on West Sixth Street.
Her untimely death has sent shockwaves through the Indian-American community in Texas, particularly among students and professionals in the ‘Silicon Hills’ corridor.Shan was an outstanding student leader, studying management information and economics, and was just months away from graduation.
According to a spokesman for the University of Texas at Austin, Shan was a student at the school, and her legal last name was Shanmugasundaram, The New York Times reported.
At a news conference on Monday, Chief Lisa Davis of the Austin police confirmed the identities of the two persons who died at the scene of the shooting. They are Ryder Harrington, 19, and Shan, reported CNN.
According to the Austin Police Department, a third individual was injured in the incident and died was Jorge Pederson, 30.
In a post on X, the police department said, “We are sad to report a 3rd victim has passed away as a result of the shooting on West Sixth Street yesterday morning.”
We are sad to report a 3rd victim has passed away as a result of the shooting on West Sixth Street yesterday morning. The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Jorge Pederson. pic.twitter.com/Ntlz4Zql69
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) March 3, 2026
The shooting has sparked concerns about safety and security, particularly in light of recent tensions between the US and Iran.
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation, and authorities have identified the suspect as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalised US citizen originally from Senegal. He was reportedly killed by police at the scene.
Materials collected from the scene and the suspect’s home contained an Iranian flag and extremist texts, prompting officials to investigate the potential of self-radicalised terrorism.
