Deadly Shooting on Austin's Sixth Street Marks Deadliest in Travis County in Over a Decade

The mass shooting that left 4 dead and 15 injured is one of the highest victim counts in Texas in recent years.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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A gunman opened fire along the bar-lined West Sixth Street in Austin, Texas, killing 4 people and wounding 16 others in a burst of violence that stunned the city. The bloodshed marks the shooting with the most casualties in Travis County in at least 12 years and ranks among the highest victim counts of shootings in Texas during that period.

Why it matters

The Sixth Street shooting underscores a recurring pattern of violence along Austin's popular entertainment district, where large crowds spill onto the sidewalks at bar closing. This incident is the fourth shooting with the highest victim counts to unfold along Sixth Street since 2014, highlighting ongoing public safety concerns in the area.

The details

The gunman was pronounced dead at the scene after a gunfire exchange with police. In total, 19 people were shot — 4 fatally and 15 injured. The victims included Ryder Harrington, Savitha Shan, and Jorge Pederson, who later died from his injuries. Outside of downtown, the county's most catastrophic recent shooting occurred in 2023, where a young man deemed mentally incompetent killed his parents in San Antonio before driving to South Austin and fatally shooting 4 more people.

  • The shooting occurred early Sunday morning on West Sixth Street.
  • By Monday, the death toll had climbed to 4 people killed.
  • The 2023 shooting in South Austin that left 9 people shot occurred on December 5.

The players

Ryder Harrington

One of the 4 people killed in the Sixth Street shooting.

Savitha Shan

One of the 4 people killed in the Sixth Street shooting.

Jorge Pederson

One of the 4 people killed in the Sixth Street shooting, having died from his injuries on Monday.

The Gunman

The shooter was pronounced dead at the scene after a gunfire exchange with police.

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What’s next

Authorities are investigating the motive behind the shooting and whether the gunman acted alone.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing public safety challenges along Austin's popular Sixth Street entertainment district, where large crowds and alcohol-fueled violence have led to multiple mass shootings in recent years. Community leaders and officials will likely renew calls for increased security measures and interventions to prevent such devastating events in the future.