Austin community plans 5K fundraiser and other aid efforts after West Sixth Street mass shooting
Event planned as city and federal victim-support services open in the days after the attack
A 5K fundraiser has been scheduled in Austin for Saturday, March 14, 2026, as community members organize financial and practical support for victims and families affected by the mass shooting that occurred on West Sixth Street earlier this month.
The event listing describes a three-mile run and frames the gathering as a community effort to raise money for those harmed in the shooting at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden. The fundraiser is planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 14.
Public resources mobilized following March 1 shooting
In the immediate aftermath of the West Sixth Street shooting on Sunday, March 1, city officials moved to provide victim services and recovery support. The City of Austin announced it would operate a Victim Assistance Center on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 3–4, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 1520 Rutherford Lane, Building 4.
City officials said the center’s services included crisis counseling, behavioral and mental health services, spiritual care, therapy animals and help with reclaiming personal items left at the crime scene. The city also directed those unable to attend in person to contact Austin Police Department Victim Services by phone for time-limited 24-hour response coverage.
Fatalities and injuries, and community fundraising efforts
Authorities reported that three people died and 14 others were injured in the West Sixth Street attack. Separate community fundraising efforts have also been created in the days following the shooting, including a campaign organized by a nearby business that stated proceeds would be directed to affected families for needs such as counseling, funeral costs and recovery expenses.
In addition to direct fundraising drives, some local businesses have announced plans to donate sales proceeds during reopening weekends to support victims and families impacted by the shooting.
What organizers say the 5K aims to do
The 5K fundraiser’s public description emphasizes bringing residents together to raise money for victims and families and lists both donation options and a fund designated for those affected. While the event’s posting centers on fundraising, it also reflects a broader pattern seen in major incidents: community-led efforts developing alongside formal public-sector response, including short-term crisis intervention and longer-term access to counseling and assistance.
What: A community 5K fundraiser (three-mile run) to raise money for victims and families.
When: Saturday, March 14, 2026, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Context: Organized after the March 1, 2026 mass shooting on West Sixth Street in Austin that left three dead and 14 injured.
Services offered at the city’s assistance center in the days after the shooting included crisis counseling, behavioral and mental health support, spiritual care and help recovering property left at the scene.
Organizers of community fundraisers have not publicly detailed how funds will be distributed beyond general categories of victim and family support. Residents seeking assistance have also been directed to victim-services resources coordinated through city and law-enforcement channels.