Kamal Ghorui
The grief-stricken family of Savitha Shan, a 21-year-old University of Texas student, who was shot dead by a gunman in an Austin bar, issued a statement after their daughter was identified as the second victim of the shooting. “It is with profound grief and immeasurable sorrow that we announce the tragic loss of our beloved daughter, Savitha in the recent terrorist attack. She was 21 years of ageand our only child. Our hearts are broken beyond words,” the statement read. “Savitha was a bright, compassionate, and deeply caring young woman whose presence brought warmth, comfort, and joy to everyone who knew her. She was a dedicated student at The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, where she pursued her studies with determination and excellence. Sge believed in working hard, serving others, and living with integrity,” the statement read. “Her sudden and heartbreaking passing had left an irreplaceable void in our lives and in the lives of all who loved her. The loss feels unreal and profoundly unfair, and the space she once brightened now echoes with sorrow. As we grieve this unimaginable loss, we also keep in our hearts the other victims of this tragedy,” it said.
MMA star Jorge Pederson identified as third victim
A third victim of the shooting at Buford’s bar on West 6th Street in Austin early morning on Sunday, March 1, has been identified as Jorge Pederson. The 30-year-old rising MMA star was in a hospital and he died after he was taken off life support. 19-year-old Ryder Harrington and 21-year-old Savitha Shan were identified as the first and second victim.
Row over the Indian origin of Savitha Shan
53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, an immigrant from Senegal, was the gunman who was also wearing a sweatshirt that said “Property of Allah” over a shirt that had the Iranian flag on it. As several politicians spoke against immigration and over 70 Texas Republicans wrote a letter to Congress urging to stop all immigration, many haters commented that Savitha should also not be in the country either. “Savitha Shan also should never have been allowed to enter our country,” US influencer Andrew Branca wrote while many reminded him that Savitha was born in the US and was a Texan in true sense.
