Austin Police Provide Updates on Deadly Downtown Shooting

Authorities confirm a third victim died from the weekend attack as they continue investigating the complex crime scene.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Austin police held a press conference on Monday to provide updates on the mass shooting that occurred in downtown Austin over the weekend, leaving two people dead and more than a dozen injured. Police Chief Lisa Davis acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating that the department is still in the early stages of the investigation and working closely with federal partners. Davis confirmed the identities of the two initial victims and announced a third person, 30-year-old Jorge Pederson, also died from the shooting on Sunday morning. The department is working with over 150 witnesses and will be releasing body camera footage and information on the suspect later this week.

Why it matters

This tragic shooting has shaken the Austin community and raised concerns about public safety in the city's downtown area. The police response and ongoing investigation will be closely watched, as authorities work to determine the motives behind the attack and provide answers to the impacted families.

The details

During the press conference, Police Chief Lisa Davis said the department is still in the early stages of the investigation into the complex crime scene. She confirmed the identities of the two initial victims killed in the attack - 24-year-old Saveetha Sean and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington. Later on Sunday, police also announced that 30-year-old Jorge Pederson had died from his injuries. Davis said the department has received numerous tips and is working with over 150 witnesses. She also noted that an officer-involved shooting is part of the investigation, and that body camera footage and information on the suspect will be released later this week.

  • The mass shooting occurred over the weekend in downtown Austin.
  • The press conference providing updates was held on Monday, March 3, 2026.
  • Police confirmed a third victim, 30-year-old Jorge Pederson, died on Sunday morning.

The players

Kirk Watson

The mayor of Austin.

Lisa Davis

The Austin Police Chief.

Saveetha Sean

A 24-year-old victim who was killed in the shooting.

Ryder Harrington

A 19-year-old victim who was killed in the shooting.

Jorge Pederson

A 30-year-old victim who died from his injuries on Sunday morning.

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What they’re saying

“The last 34 hours have been some of the most challenging of my career. This has been difficult for our community, devastating to the impacted families, and challenging to our APD family.”

— Lisa Davis, Austin Police Chief (Patch)

“Once the initial scene was secured, we reached out to our federal partners to assist in this resource intensive scene and to address concerns of potential terrorism.”

— Lisa Davis, Austin Police Chief (Patch)

What’s next

The Austin Police Department plans to release body camera footage and additional information on the suspect later this week.

The takeaway

This tragic shooting has shaken the Austin community and raised serious concerns about public safety in the city's downtown area. The police response and ongoing investigation will be closely watched as authorities work to determine the motives behind the attack and provide answers to the impacted families.