Fraternity, siblings and officials mourn 19-year-old Ryder Harrington after Sixth Street attack

Family, friends and officials are mourning Ryder Harrington, 19, a former Texas Tech student killed Sunday morning in a shooting at a bar on Sixth Street in Austin. He was one of two people killed when a gunman opened fire on 16 people outside a beer garden.

Harrington pledged Beta Theta Pi at Texas Tech in fall 2024. His former fraternity hosted a private candlelight vigil for him Monday evening. In a post, fraternity brothers said his kindness and presence touched countless lives and that he had a rare ability to make people laugh and make ordinary days unforgettable.

His older brother Reed posted that Ryder was the best mix of his siblings — with wit, heart and some stubbornness — and wrote that it was unfair his little brother was only given 19 years. His sister Reagan called Ryder her best friend, saying to know him was to love him. His brother Ryan posted that he would miss him.

Texas Tech University officials said Harrington was not enrolled this semester but that their thoughts were with his family, friends and all those affected. Former Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance posted on X calling Harrington an outstanding young man and said he heard nothing but praise for him and his character. Hance called Harrington’s death a murder by a terrorist.

Austin police killed the suspected shooter, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, at the scene. Diagne, a naturalized American citizen born in Senegal, was wearing a sweater reading “Property of Allah” over a T-shirt bearing the Iranian flag at the time of the shooting, according to investigators.

Austin police said the investigation remains in its early stages.

“We are still in the early hours of this investigation. This is a complicated and large crime scene. Our priority is finding answers and the motives behind this crime,” Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said.

Alex Doran, the acting agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office, said there were indicators pointing to a possible connection to terrorism.

“Obviously, it’s still way too early to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” Doran said.

Gov. Greg Abbott said the state will pursue every lead to determine whether anyone else was involved.

“As long as this war is going on, we need to be safe against potential attacks like what happened in Austin, Texas, this past weekend, to make sure we all remain vigilant but also informing the public that Texas has redoubled the personnel on the ground to make sure we keep our communities as safe as possible,” Abbott said.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows posted on X Harrington’s death hit close to home, as Harrington was the brother-in-law of one of his staffers.

“I cannot imagine the grief, pain and loss these families are feeling today, and my heart is with them,” Davis said.

A fundraiser for Harrington’s family had raised more than $102,000 as of Monday evening.