San Antonio family describes survival of deadly Austin Sixth Street shooting as terrorism inquiry continues

What happened on West Sixth Street

A San Antonio family is among the survivors of the mass shooting that unfolded outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin’s West Sixth Street entertainment district early Sunday, March 1, 2026. The attack left three people dead and sent 14 others to hospitals, with several reported in critical condition in the immediate aftermath.

Emergency calls began at about 1:59 a.m. Authorities said officers already in the area reached the scene within roughly a minute and exchanged gunfire with the suspect. The shooter was killed at the scene during an officer-involved shooting.

Victims and the evolving casualty count

Austin police identified the deceased victims as Ryder Harrington, 19; Savitha Shan, 21; and Jorge Pederson, 30. Pederson died on Monday, March 2, after being taken off life support, as the investigation continued and families awaited updates on those still hospitalized.

Public information released in the first 48 hours emphasized both the speed of the emergency response and the difficulty of accounting for victims in a densely crowded nightlife corridor where witnesses described sudden, overlapping bursts of gunfire and rapid crowd movement.

What investigators have said about the suspect

Authorities identified the gunman as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne. In the days after the shooting, federal and local agencies pursued multiple investigative tracks, including whether the attack had a terrorism nexus. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was involved, and investigators searched locations linked to the suspect.

Separate court records that surfaced after the shooting show a civil judge previously found a pattern of family violence in Diagne’s past during divorce and custody proceedings, adding another dimension to the case timeline now being examined by investigators.

Survivors from San Antonio and the ripple effects

The San Antonio family that survived described being caught in the chaos near closing time in the West Sixth area, where large late-night crowds are typical on weekends. Their account aligns with the broader scene described by witnesses: a sudden burst of gunfire, immediate confusion about the shooter’s location, and a rush to find cover amid people fleeing in multiple directions.

For families outside Austin, the incident has underscored how quickly routine travel and nightlife plans can intersect with large-scale emergencies. In the days that followed, hospitals, blood donation efforts and victim-support fundraisers became focal points for community response.

Key verified facts at a glance

• Date and place: Early March 1, 2026, on West Sixth Street near Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in downtown Austin.

• Fatalities: Three victims (Harrington, Shan, Pederson); the suspect also died at the scene.

• Injuries: Fourteen people were taken to hospitals; some were initially reported in critical condition.

• Investigation: Federal and local authorities are examining motive, including a potential terrorism nexus, while also reviewing the suspect’s background and prior court findings.

The investigation remained active as authorities continued interviews with a large number of witnesses and processed evidence across multiple locations.

Officials have urged anyone with relevant photos, video or firsthand information from the West Sixth Street area during the incident to contact law enforcement as investigators work to establish a definitive motive and a complete timeline.