A third victim has died following a mass shooting at Buford's bar in Austin, Texas, which authorities are investigating as a potential act of terrorism. Jorge Pederson, 30, a Minnesota-based mixed martial arts fighter, succumbed to injuries after being on life support since the attack on Sunday. The Austin Police Department confirmed his death on Monday evening.
The shooting left more than a dozen others wounded before police fatally shot the gunman, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese national and naturalized US citizen. Reports indicate Diagne was wearing a T-shirt with an Iranian flag design under his hoodie, prompting investigations into possible links to recent US airstrikes in Iran. The FBI stated there were indicators of a potential nexus to terrorism but cautioned it was too early to make a definitive determination.
The other two victims were Ryder Harrington, 19, a Texas Tech University student, and Savitha Shan, 21, a student at the University of Texas at Austin. The incident is among over 55 mass shootings in the US this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one with four or more victims injured or killed.
Buford's owner Bob Woody praised the swift response of law enforcement, who arrived at the scene 57 seconds after the first emergency call. In a statement, Woody expressed sorrow and gratitude, saying, 'Your swift and courageous actions saved so many.' The FBI continues to investigate the scene, and staff are receiving grief counselling.
