An Indian-American student months away from graduation was among four people killed in a late-night shooting in downtown Austin, an attack authorities are probing as a possible act of terrorism.
Savitha Shan, 21, an Austin native and dual-degree senior at the University of Texas at Austin, was fatally shot when a gunman opened fire in a crowded entertainment district on West Sixth Street on Sunday.
She was described by university officials as an outstanding student leader studying management information systems and economics.
At a news conference on Monday afternoon, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed the identities of two people who died at the scene — Shan and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington.
The Indian-American community in Texas is mourning after Shan was identified as one of the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting in downtown Austin. The killing has sent shockwaves through the city’s sizable Indian diaspora, particularly among students and technology professionals in the “Silicon Hills” corridor.
Heightened security concerns have emerged across the country after attacks on Iran this weekend by the United States and Israel, and retaliation by Iran.
A spokesman for the University of Texas at Austin confirmed Shan was a student at the school and said her legal last name was Shanmugasundaram, according to school records, the New York Times reported.
In a letter to campus, university president Jim Davis described her as “a child of loving parents. A loyal friend to many. A Longhorn preparing to change the world.” Shan was a graduate of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy and was widely regarded as a high-achieving and community-oriented student.
Federal authorities, led by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, are investigating the attack for possible international or ideological links.
The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalised US citizen originally from Senegal, was shot and killed by police at the scene.
Investigators said materials recovered from the scene and the suspect's residence included an Iranian flag and extremist writings, prompting authorities to examine the possibility of self-radicalised terrorism.
The shooting occurred around 1:59 am at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden. Witnesses told police the suspect first fired from an SUV before exiting the vehicle with a rifle. Austin Police said officers neutralised the gunman within about a minute of the first emergency call.
Four people, including the suspect, were killed in the attack. Fourteen others were injured, several of them students, with at least three reported to be in critical condition.
One of the injured, Karan Bhakta, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Texas, said he had been enjoying a night out with friends when a bullet grazed his scalp, the report added.
On Monday morning, the University of Texas campus remained subdued even as student body elections began this week. Students who were out described fresh fears about gun violence in the wake of the attack.
Indian-American community leaders in Austin said they are coordinating with local authorities to support the Shan family and other affected residents. Plans are underway for a community memorial service as investigators continue to examine the motive behind the shooting.
