Austin Police have identified the two people who lost their lives in Sunday morning’s mass shooting on 6th Street as Savitha Shan and Ryder Harrington.
Savitha Shan was a 21 year old Indian American student at the University of Texas. Friends describe her as bright, focused, and full of dreams. She had gone out that night like many other young people do on weekends, not knowing it would be her last.
According to officials, a gunman opened fire outside a bar in the busy entertainment district. Two people were killed and 14 others were injured. Several of the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and they are working to determine what led to the shooting.
The news has shaken both the Austin community and Indian American families across the country. For many, it is hard to accept that a young student with her whole life ahead of her is gone because of another act of gun violence.
University officials expressed their condolences to Savitha’s family and friends. Students on campus have been sharing messages of grief and support, remembering her as kind and hardworking.
Savitha’s death is a painful reminder of how quickly lives can change. What began as a normal weekend night ended in tragedy for two families who are now left to cope with an unimaginable loss.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward as the investigation continues.
Two college students, two Texans, whose lives had just started. So awful. https://t.co/4mCvTCY56v pic.twitter.com/1YmOK1GEtl
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) March 2, 2026
