Daijiworld Media Network - Houston
Houston, Mar 3: A 21-year-old Indian-American student was among four people killed in a late-night shooting outside a bar in Austin, Texas, in an incident that authorities are investigating as a possible act of terrorism.
Savitha Shan, a 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 around 1.59 am on Sunday.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed at a news conference that Shan and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington were among those who died at the scene.
Shan, whose legal last name is Shanmugasundaram according to university records, was months away from graduation. She was studying management information systems and economics and was described by university officials as an outstanding student leader.
University president Jim Davis, in a message to the campus community, called her “a child of loving parents, a loyal friend to many, a Longhorn preparing to change the world.”
The killing has sent shockwaves through Austin’s sizeable Indian-American community, particularly among students and technology professionals in the city’s “Silicon Hills” corridor. Community leaders said they are coordinating with local authorities to support Shan’s family and others affected by the tragedy.
Plans are underway for a memorial service as the investigation into the motive continues.
The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalised US citizen originally from Senegal, was shot dead by police at the scene.
According to investigators, the gunman initially fired from an SUV before exiting the vehicle with a rifle and continuing the attack near Buford's Backyard Beer Garden.
Officers neutralised the suspect within about a minute of the first emergency call, police said.
Federal authorities, led by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, are examining possible international or ideological links. Materials recovered from the scene and the suspect’s residence reportedly included an Iranian flag and extremist writings, prompting scrutiny over possible self-radicalisation.
The attack comes amid heightened security concerns across the United States following recent strikes on Iran by the US and Israel and retaliatory actions by Tehran.
In total, four people, including the suspect, were killed and 14 others injured. Several of the injured are believed to be students, with at least three reported in critical condition.
One of the injured, 21-year-old senior Karan Bhakta, reportedly suffered a bullet graze to his scalp while out with friends.
On Monday morning, the University of Texas campus remained subdued as student body elections commenced, with many students expressing renewed fears over gun violence.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm as the investigation progresses, while the Austin community grapples with yet another mass shooting that has left families devastated and a campus in mourning.