The UT Austin senior was killed months before graduation, and her family has created a scholarship in her name.
AUSTIN, TX — The parents of Savitha Shan, a University of Texas at Austin senior killed in the March 1 West Sixth Street mass shooting, are speaking publicly about her life and the scholarship they created to carry her name forward.
Savitha Shanmugasundaram, known to many as Savitha Shan, was 21 and nearing graduation when she was killed outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in downtown Austin. Her parents, Dr. Shan Muthian and Selvi Shan, have described their only child as driven, kind and focused on education. UT Austin has said the Savitha Shan Endowed Scholarship will support future students and honor her goals.
The shooting happened in the early morning hours of March 1 in the 700 block of West Sixth Street, one of Austin’s busiest nightlife areas. Authorities said a gunman opened fire outside the bar, killing three people and injuring 15 others before police shot and killed him. Savitha was one of those killed. Her father said their weekly coffee talks were a central part of their bond. “We talked about all the things, what happened last week, what will she do next week?” Dr. Shan said. He said those quiet talks helped shape both of them.
Savitha was a senior studying management information systems and economics through UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business and the College of Liberal Arts. She was expected to graduate in May and had a job lined up with Visa. Her family said she cared deeply about education and wanted to create a nonprofit to help underprivileged students reach college. Her mother, Selvi Shan, said the loss was beyond measure. “She was my life,” she said. UT officials said the endowed scholarship is meant to extend Savitha’s work by helping other students pursue their own education.
The FBI said last week that investigators found the shooter, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, acted alone. Federal officials said they found no evidence that he was directed, funded or supported by a foreign terrorist organization. Investigators said they have not established a direct motive, though they believe he may have been affected by personal triggers tied to U.S. and Israeli military action involving Iran. Austin police have said officers responded within about a minute of the first emergency calls. The investigation remains open, and officials have said they are still reviewing evidence gathered after the attack.
For Savitha’s family, the public details of the case sit beside private memories of a daughter they say was independent, creative and self-motivated. Her parents have spoken about mornings over coffee, her plans after college and her wish to help others. Friends and university leaders have described her as a natural leader who brought energy to the people around her. The scholarship was announced in April, weeks after vigils and memorials drew students and community members mourning those killed on West Sixth Street.
The shooting also left the families of Ryder Harrington, 19, and Jorge Pederson, 30, grieving. Harrington, a former Texas Tech University student, and Pederson, a mixed martial arts fighter, were also killed. The attack brought renewed attention to public safety in Austin’s entertainment district, where city officials have faced questions about policing, emergency access and crowd safety. Austin leaders praised the fast response by officers and medics, while federal and local investigators continued to examine the gunman’s history, weapons and movements before the shooting.
The next steps remain with investigators as the FBI and Austin police continue their reviews. No criminal trial will follow because the gunman died at the scene, but officials have said the inquiry is not closed. For the Shan family, the scholarship is now the clearest public marker of what comes next. It links Savitha’s name to the same goal she had before her death: helping students move forward through education.
Author note: Last updated May 13, 2026.