Austin mourns Ryder Harrington as community gathers for funeral after West Sixth Street mass shooting
Family and friends remember a 19-year-old killed in the March 1 attack
Austin gathered Friday, March 6, to bury Ryder Harrington, 19, one of three people killed in the mass shooting that unfolded on West Sixth Street on March 1, 2026. The funeral drew a crowd that local estimates placed at roughly 1,000 mourners at a southwest Austin church, reflecting the broad impact of an attack that struck one of the city’s busiest nightlife corridors.
Harrington was identified by police as one of the victims after the early-morning shooting near Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, a bar in the West Sixth entertainment district. Authorities have said 19 people were shot in total, with 14 survivors injured and three people later confirmed dead. In addition to Harrington, the victims who died were Savitha Shan, 21, and Jorge Pederson, 30.
What investigators have said so far
Investigators have described a fast-moving scene beginning outside the bar, with shots fired from a vehicle and additional gunfire after the shooter exited. Austin police officers confronted the suspect and shot him; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have said the case spans a large crime scene and includes extensive physical and digital evidence, with more than 150 potential witnesses identified for interviews and large volumes of video under review.
Federal authorities have indicated they are examining potential terrorism indicators connected to the suspect and items found in his vehicle. City and federal victim services were mobilized in the days after the shooting to assist victims, families and witnesses, including support for retrieving belongings left behind during the chaos.
Harrington’s ties to Austin and Texas Tech
Harrington had ties to both Austin and Texas Tech University. The university said he had been enrolled as recently as the fall 2025 semester but was not taking classes during the current term. He also had connections to a campus fraternity community that organized remembrances after his death.
Age: 19
Killed in the West Sixth Street shooting on March 1, 2026
Previously enrolled at Texas Tech University through fall 2025
A city still processing the aftermath
In the week following the shooting, vigils were held for victims across Austin, including gatherings organized by university students. Memorials appeared near the West Sixth Street area as the city attempted to balance mourning with the practical realities of a reopened entertainment district and an ongoing criminal investigation.
The investigation remains active, with authorities continuing to gather witness statements, review video and evaluate potential motive.
For many Austinites, Harrington’s funeral marked a transition from shock to sustained grief, occurring as investigators continue to assemble a fuller account of what happened and why.