A Minnesota-based mixed martial arts fighter has been named as the third victim to die in the mass shooting at an Austin bar that is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism in retaliation for US airstrikes in Iran. Jorge Pederson, 30, had been on life support after the weekend attack, which left more than a dozen others wounded.
Pederson's death was announced by Austin police on Monday. He had been due to make his professional MMA debut in May. The promoter Ignite Fights paid tribute on Instagram, saying: 'He was someone who always came to put on a show.' The other victims were identified as Ryder Harrington, 19, a Texas Tech University student, and Savitha Shan, 21, a student at the University of Texas at Austin.
Police named the gunman as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a Senegalese national and naturalised US citizen. He was reportedly wearing a T-shirt with an Iranian flag design under his hoodie. Authorities are investigating his motives and possible links to extremist groups, though he appeared to have been acting alone. The attack is one of more than 55 mass shootings recorded in the US this year.
The owner of the bar, Bob Woody, praised the swift intervention of law enforcement, who arrived 57 seconds after the first emergency call. 'You saved lives,' he said in a statement. 'Your swift and courageous actions saved so many.' The FBI continues to investigate the scene, and staff are receiving grief counselling.
