Austin Bar Shooting Leaves Three Dead, Victims Have Been Identified

(MENAFN) Authorities have confirmed the identities of three individuals fatally shot outside a bar in Austin, Texas early Sunday morning.

Ryder Harrington, 19, and Savitha Shan, 21, died at the scene outside a bar popular with University of Texas students, while officials later confirmed that Jorge Pederson, 30, was also killed. More than a dozen others were injured, some critically.

The suspected shooter, Ndiaga Diagne, was shot and killed by police after responding to reports of an active shooter around 2:00 a.m. local time (08:00 GMT). The FBI is investigating potential links to terrorism, including any connection to the ongoing war in Iran.

Diagne, a naturalized US citizen originally from Senegal, was reported to have been wearing a sweatshirt with the words “Property of Allah” at the time of the shooting. Officials searching his residence reportedly found an Iranian flag and images of Iranian leaders.

Two of the victims were students, though authorities have not confirmed their universities.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said, “We recognise that this is a very traumatic moment in our city. I cannot imagine the grief, pain and loss these families are feeling today, and my heart is with them.”

The attack occurred during the same weekend that the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that federal and state authorities would investigate whether the shooting had any links to terrorism.

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