A Texas college student and another woman have been identified as the victims victims gunned down by a suspected terrorist at a popular bar over the weekend.
19-year-old Ryder Harrington, a student Texas Tech University who was last enrolled at the school in the Fall 2025 semester, was killed by gunfire at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin on Sunday morning, according to a GoFundMe page created by his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi.
Additionally, 21-year-old Savitha Shan was also named as a victim in the shooting, according to the Austin Police Department.
“Ryder was a beloved son, brother, and friend whose kindness and presence touched countless lives,” the tribute said. “From the moment he joined our brotherhood, he brought a light that was impossible to ignore.”
Harrington and Shan were both killed and 14 others injured after Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen born in Senegal who lived in Pflugerville, Texas, opened fire on the popular nightlife hub near the University of Texas at Austin just after 2 a.m. Sunday.
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According to Police Chief Lisa Davis, the gunman “put his flashers on, rolled down his window and began using a pistol shooting out of his car windows, striking patrons of the bar that were on the patio and that were in front of the bar.”
From there, the gunman drove westbound on Sixth Street to Wood Street, parked his vehicle and exited holding a rifle while continuing to shoot at pedestrians. He never entered the bar.
The gunman was then shot and killed by police at the scene.
The FBI has since revealed the shooting was a possible act of terrorism.
“Obviously, it’s still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office, said at a press conference Sunday.
“Again, it’s still too early to make a determination on that. That’s why we are investigating it very closely with our partners with Austin police department,” Doran added.
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Doran also said the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has been deployed to aid in the investigation.
“We’re just at this point prepared to say that it was potentially an act of terrorism,” he said.
As the investigation unfolds, Harrington’s loved ones continue to mourn the loss of the college student and fraternity member.
Texas House of Representatives Speaker Dustin Burrows penned an emotional statement to social media, revealing Harrington was the brother-in-law of a member of his political team.
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“From all accounts, Ryder was exactly the kind of young man who made a difference without even trying—full of life, loyal to his friends, proud to be a Red Raider and a Texan, and someone who showed up for the people around him,” Burrows wrote.
Additionally, Chancellor Emeritus of the Texas Tech University System and former Texas senator Kent Hance also condemned the violent act and offered his condolences.
“Ryder Harrington was murdered in Austin by a terrorist,” Hance posted to X. “Ryder was an outstanding young man. I’ve talked to several people who knew him and everyone had nothing but praise for him and his character.”
“We are saddened to learn of the tragic incident in Austin that resulted in the loss of life,” Texas Tech University said in a statement. “Mr. Ryder Harrington had previously been enrolled at Texas Tech University, most recently during the Fall 2025 semester, but was not enrolled this semester. Our thoughts are with Ryder’s family, friends, and all those affected by this devastating situation.”
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
