Houston/America. A 21-year-old Indian-American student is among four people killed in a shooting outside a bar in the US city of Austin. The incident is being investigated as a possible terrorist act. Savita Shan, a resident of Austin and a student studying at the University of Texas, was killed on Sunday when an assailant opened fire indiscriminately in a crowded area of West Sixth Street.
She was just months away from receiving her bachelor’s degree and was described by university officials as an excellent student of management information systems and economics. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis identified the two people killed at the scene as Ryder Harrington, 19, and Shawn, at a press conference Monday afternoon. The Indian-American community in Texas is in mourning after Sunday’s mass shooting.
The murder has shocked Austin’s large Indian expatriate community, especially students and technology professionals working in the ‘Silicon Hills’ area. Security concerns have increased across the country following attacks on Iran by the US and Israel over the weekend and Iran’s retaliatory measures. A spokesperson for the University of Texas at Austin confirmed that Shaan’s legal surname was Shanmugasundaram. University President Jim Davis described her as “the child of loving parents, a loyal friend to many, and a ‘Longhorn’ poised to change the world.” Federal authorities, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Joint Terrorism Task Force, are investigating possible international or ideological ties to the attack.
The suspect in the attack, 53-year-old Diaga Dianye, an American citizen of Senegalese origin, was killed at the scene by police. In the shooting that took place outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden at 1:59 a.m., the suspect first opened fire from the SUV and then came out with a rifle. Police killed him within about a minute of the first emergency call. Four people, including the suspect, were killed and 14 others were injured in the incident, including many students.
The condition of at least three is said to be critical. Among the injured students was 21-year-old Karan Bhakta, who was hit by a bullet on his head. Leaders of the Indian-American community in Austin said they are coordinating with local authorities to assist Shan’s family and other affected residents. A community vigil is being planned as the investigation into the motive for the murder continues.
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