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Authorities on Monday night said a third victim died from injuries suffered in the early Sunday morning mass shooting in downtown Austin.

The latest: Police identified the deceased victims as Savitha Shan, 21, Ryder Harrington, 22, and Jorge Pederson, 30.

Harrington was a Texas Tech student. "The energy he carried, the joy he spread, and the way he made everyone feel welcome are things we will never forget," his fraternity posted on Instagram.

University of Texas officials identified Shan as Savitha Shanmugasundaram. She was a graduate of LASA High School, KUT reported.

Two other victims remain in critical condition, Austin police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference Monday.

What they're saying: "It was confirmed that among those who lost their lives is one UT student," University of Texas president Jim Davis said in a letter to the university community. "A child of loving parents. A loyal friend to many. A Longhorn preparing to change the world. It is devastating, and I know all of us are grieved by this horrible news and we will remember her."

"A number of our students sustained injuries during the attack," he continued. "Some of these are very serious and we are hoping for the best outcomes, while others are on the path to recovery."

Between the lines: "We're still in the early hours of this investigation," Chief Davis said. "It's a complicated and large crime scene."

The shooter's guns were acquired legally in San Antonio in 2017, Chief Davis said.

She said that on Thursday the police would release body-camera footage of the incident. The shooter, identified by police Sunday as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was wearing a sweatshirt that said "Property of Allah" and another shirt with an Iranian flag design, according to law enforcement. He was fatally shot by police.

Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio field office, said Monday that law enforcement was trying to determine the motive. "We don't want to speculate or make any guesses at this point," he said.

The intrigue: Doran declined to answer a question Monday on what he meant a day earlier when he said the FBI had found "indicators" on the suspect and in his vehicle pointing to a "potential nexus to terrorism."

Zoom in: Diagne was "not previously on our radar," Doran said. 

Chief Davis said Diagne was "not identified as a threat" previously.

The bottom line: Chief Davis said of police in major cities: "Everybody better be on heightened alert."

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Savitha Shan was 21 (not 24).

National

Third victim dies in Austin mass shooting

Savitha Shan, 24, Ryder Harrington, 22, and Jorge Pederson, 30, were killed in the attack.

Four police officers armed and in tactical gear walking on a street at night with flashing patrol car lights and a large illuminated heart-shaped sign reading "Buford's" in the background.

Austin police at the scene of Sunday's shooting. Photo: Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images

Politics & Policy

News

After a months-long renovation, the LBJ Presidential Library is opening its new exhibit space on Saturday. 

Why it matters: More than a half-century on, the Johnson presidency feels current, as the Trump administration unravels LBJ's Great Society programs.

What's happening: The renovation updates the permanent exhibit on the fourth floor, featuring immersive activities linking LBJ's legacy to present-day America.

Examples include a Rolodex-like set of bios of LBJ's inner circle, a phone for listening to recordings of conversations between the president and his advisers and a touch-and-feel section of modern materials derived from NASA's lunar missions.

What they're saying: "There are a lot of points in the LBJ presidency and America in the 1960s that resonate with today's times, so it's a good moment to take a step back and look at how people reacted and rose to the moment," Lara Hall, museum curator at the LBJ Presidential Library, tells Axios.

Plus: LBJ is also unveiling a temporary exhibit on Saturday, titled "Austin, Past & Present: Through the Lens of Jay Godwin," highlighting how the city has changed from the 1800s through today. 

Godwin, the LBJ Library's staff photographer since 2015, was previously the American-Statesman's photo editor.

💭 Asher's thought bubble: I'm excited about the Godwin exhibit, especially because Jay is one of the kindest journalists around — his partner, Denise Gamino, who wrote the exhibition text, is also a fantastic person and writer.

📍 If you go: The LBJ Library is open 9am to 5pm daily and is free for kids under 12 — and $6 for children 13-18. Adults pay $16, with discounts available for seniors, retired and active military, teachers, college students and visitors named Claudia or Lyndon. 

LBJ Library exhibit gets a glow up

The LBJ Library is adding immersive features as it links the 1960s to today.

Woman in a red dress and white cardigan interacting with a rotating exhibit labeled "LBJ's Contact List" in a museum with large photos and words like "Compassionate" and "Collaborative."

LBJ Library curator Lara Hall shows off a new Rolodex feature at the LBJ Library. (BTW, true story: Asher's best friend's grandfather invented the Rolodex.) Photo: Asher Price/Axios

Martin Luther King and Lyndon Baines Johnson at the White House.

After a months-long renovation, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="LBJ Presidential Library" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lbjlibrary.org/" data-vars-content-id="27756209-5fc7-4bc0-8363-c2101e5165be" data-vars-headline="LBJ Library exhibit gets a glow up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lbjlibrary.org/" target="_blank">LBJ Presidential Library</a> is opening its new exhibit space on Saturday. Why it matters: More than a half-century on, the Johnson presidency feels current, as the Trump administration <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unravels" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/22/trump-2025-reverse-lbj-1965-civil-rights-poverty" data-vars-content-id="27756209-5fc7-4bc0-8363-c2101e5165be" data-vars-headline="LBJ Library exhibit gets a glow up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/22/trump-2025-reverse-lbj-1965-civil-rights-poverty" target="_self">unravels</a> LBJ&#x27;s Great Society programs.

Despite their historically broad support for Democrats, some Indian Americans are turning to the GOP — and running for office as Republicans. 

Why it matters: The shift comes as the party's most prominent Indian American political candidate calls out bigotry within the party's ranks.

The big picture: Indian Americans, who make up the largest portion of South Asians in the U.S., moved toward President Trump in the last election.

Trump enjoyed a 5 percentage point increase among Asian American voters between 2020 and 2024, per exit polls.

Driving the news: Abraham George, a native of South India, announced in February he is running for reelection as Texas GOP chair. 

In Central Texas, Abhiram Garapati, an investor and cattle rancher who studied electrical engineering in South India, is among nine candidates challenging U.S. Rep. John Carter in the Republican primary for the 31st Congressional District, a mostly rural district that includes parts of Williamson County. 

Also in Williamson County, attorney Rupal Chaudhari, who earned her undergrad degree in India, is running in the GOP primary for Precinct 2 of the Commissioners Court, which includes Liberty Hill, Cedar Park and Leander — areas that have seen some of Central Texas' fastest immigrant growth. 

Yes, but: Last year at a conservative conference organized by Turning Point USA, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy warned about bigotry within the party.

"The idea that a 'heritage American' is more American than another American is un-American at its core," he said.

At a City Council meeting in February in Frisco, just north of Dallas, one speaker criticized the H-1B visa program as leading to an "Indian takeover" of the city, according to the New York Times.

What they're saying: "While I have seen bigotry ... it is not indicative of the sentiments of the people at large," Garapati told Axios via email.

Neither George nor Chaudhari responded to Axios interview requests.

Garapati, who has run previously for Congress as a Republican, says on his website that he is "deeply committed to the conservative principles that make our state and nation strong," emphasizing his support for gun rights and border security.

Reality check: 68% of Indian American registered voters identify as Democrats or lean Democratic, per a 2023 Pew Research Center survey.

"Indians have been one of the most progressive groups in Asian America," Janelle Wong, a professor of government at the University of Maryland, said on the "Science of Politics" podcast in December 2024. 

But concerns over the economy and immigration motivated conservative-minded South Asians to go to the polls in 2024, Wong said.

By the numbers: Indian Americans' population growth is playing out in Texas and nationally.

As of 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated more than 450,000 Indian Americans in Texas — almost double from 2010.

Nationally, the population of Indian Americans has grown from 1.8 million in 2000 to more than 5.2 million today.

That's translated into political power. "Indian Americans are increasingly visible in national politics," Sara Sadhwani, an assistant professor of politics at Pomona College and a senior researcher at AAPI Data, observed last year. (The FBI director, Kash Patel, is of Indian descent.) 

Zoom out: South Asians are also running for office as Democrats. 

Immigration attorney Pooja Sethi is running against Joseph Kopser for the Democratic nomination in Texas House District 47, which takes in Austin's western flank, as well as Bee Cave and parts of Lakeway.

Austin Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, who represents Travis Heights, downtown Austin, West Campus, Hyde Park and Mueller, is running for reelection this year. 

A Pakistani American and a Muslim, Qadri tells Axios "it's not lost on me what my representation means" for other South Asians — especially as top state elected officials designate some Muslim groups as foreign terrorist organizations.

The bottom line: There are "absolutely" more South Asians running for office as the community aims for political representation, Chanda Parbhoo, executive director of SAAVETX, a nonprofit whose mission is to increase the political power of Texas' South Asian-American community, tells Axios. 

South Asians are a "very educated base of voters and we are up for grabs," she said. 

How South Asians are growing political power in Central Texas

As of 2021, the U.S. Census estimated more than 450,000 Indian Americans in Texas — almost double from 2010.

Two red and blue political signs for Abhiram Garapati, Republican for Congress, on grassy roadside near a traffic light and a sign for Bill's Tractor under a cloudy sky.

Signs for a South Asian candidate in Liberty Hill. Photo: Asher Price/Axios

Despite their historically broad support for Democrats, some <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Indian Americans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/10/09/south-asian-hate-kamala-harris-usha-vance" data-vars-content-id="2c084ab9-78b9-4629-80c2-c9041c37a342" data-vars-headline="How South Asians are growing political power in Central Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/10/09/south-asian-hate-kamala-harris-usha-vance" target="_self">Indian Americans</a> are turning to the GOP — and running for office as Republicans. Why it matters: The shift comes as the party&#x27;s most prominent Indian American political candidate calls out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bigotry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/opinion/republican-identity-divide.html" data-vars-content-id="2c084ab9-78b9-4629-80c2-c9041c37a342" data-vars-headline="How South Asians are growing political power in Central Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/opinion/republican-identity-divide.html" target="_blank">bigotry</a> within the party&#x27;s ranks.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico of Austin defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas.

Why it matters: Talarico's victory sets the stage for a battle royal that promises to be among the most expensive contests of the year, as Democrats hope President Trump's unpopularity translates to red-state victories.

It also further raises the profile of Talarico, a media darling who has framed his argument against Republicans in terms of his Christian faith. 

What they're saying: "Tonight our campaign is shocking the nation," Talarico said Tuesday night in Austin.

The latest: Crockett issued a statement Wednesday conceding the race to Talarico and called on the party to unify behind him.  

As of noon CST Wednesday, Talarico had 52.8% of the vote, and Crockett 45.9%, per results from 92% of polling locations statewide according to the Texas Secretary of State's Office.

The intrigue: Voting in Dallas County, Crockett's home base, was wracked with confusion. 

Ahead of the election, Dallas and Williamson counties had closed centralized voting centers, which had been commonly used by voters of both parties, at the behest of local Republicans.

Some voters reported scrambling to figure out their polling place and district court judges extended polling hours in both counties.

But late Tuesday the Texas Supreme Court ordered the counties to separate any votes cast by voters not in line by 7pm.

"I can tell you now that people have been disenfranchised," Crockett told supporters Tuesday night.

Context: Texas has not elected a Democratic candidate statewide since 1994.

Follow the money: Ahead of the final weeks of the race, Talarico's campaign had $4.8 million and Crockett's campaign had $3.5 million in cash on hand, per the most recent campaign finance filings.

On top of that, millions of dollars flooded the race from political action committees supporting the candidates.

Talarico for TX Senate and Lone Star Rising PAC, a pro-Talarico committee, were slated to spend about $16 million in advertising over the final month of the race, per data from advertising analytics site AdImpact.

Over the same period, Crockett for TX Senate was scheduled to spend about $3.5 million, with another $500,000 from the Texas Forward PAC, per AdImpact.

What's next: Talarico will face the winner of a Republican primary runoff between U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Flashback: Colbert defies CBS over interview with Texas Senate candidate

olbert defies CBS over interview with Texas Senate candidate

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James Talarico wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas

The state lawmaker defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas.

Side-by-side images of a man with brown hair speaking into a microphone against a dark background and a smiling woman with long black hair holding a microphone and touching her chin outdoors.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas). Photos: Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images and Joel Angel Juarez/Getty Images

Texas state Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Talarico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/09/09/democrat-james-talarico-us-senate" data-vars-content-id="30e8718a-f03d-4de6-acbb-a234bf7f39bc" data-vars-headline="James Talarico wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/09/09/democrat-james-talarico-us-senate" target="_self">James Talarico</a> of Austin defeated U.S. Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jasmine Crockett" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/12/jasmine-crockett-house-democrats-senate-texas" data-vars-content-id="30e8718a-f03d-4de6-acbb-a234bf7f39bc" data-vars-headline="James Talarico wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/12/jasmine-crockett-house-democrats-senate-texas" target="_self">Jasmine Crockett</a> of Dallas for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas.Why it matters: Talarico&#x27;s victory sets the stage for a battle royal that promises to be among the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most expensive contests" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/01/james-talarico-raises-62-million-for-texas-senate-bid" data-vars-content-id="30e8718a-f03d-4de6-acbb-a234bf7f39bc" data-vars-headline="James Talarico wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/01/james-talarico-raises-62-million-for-texas-senate-bid" target="_self">most expensive contests</a> of the year, as Democrats hope President Trump&#x27;s unpopularity translates to red-state victories.

Politics

After Austin chef David Muñoz told us that the one meal he'd want with him on a desert island is his mother's election night enchiladas, readers asked for the recipe. 

Muñoz, who grew up in Fort Worth, is the executive chef at Henry's at the Inn at Green Pastures. This recipe originated with his mother, Aurelia Muñoz — they'd be ready when her husband, an elections judge, came home from the polls.

By the numbers: The recipe yields up to 15 enchiladas.

For the beef cheeks: You'll need roughly 2.5 pounds of beef cheeks, cleaned and trimmed; 2 yellow onions; 7 guajillo peppers and 3 ancho chiles, seeded; 2 teaspoons each of black peppercorns and salt; 10 cloves of garlic; 2 teaspoons each of allspice and oregano; a sachet of thyme and bay leaves; a pair of cinnamon sticks; 2 tablespoons of white vinegar.

Beef chuck roast or short rib may be substituted for beef cheek.

2. Saute onions in oil until soft/translucent.

3. In a separate pot, toast the cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, allspice and garlic (no oil) until fragrant. Garlic will be fragrant and slightly charred on the outside.

4. Blend all ingredients except bay leaves, thyme and beef cheeks. 

5. Rub beef cheeks with a generous amount of marinade and let sit 12–24 hours before cooking. Reserve any remaining marinade.

6. Once ready to cook, transfer to a Dutch oven, add in the sachet and remaining marinade and cover with parchment paper and lid. Cook in the oven at 300° for 3–3.5 hours.

Meat should be fork-tender — a pressure cooker or Instant Pot may be used in place of slow braising. 

Simply sear the meat in the pot, add sachet and remaining marinade. Set the pressure cooker or Instant Pot to high and cook for approximately 1 hour.

7. Once cooked, remove meat from cooking liquid. Once it's cool enough to handle, shred the meat.

8. Pour remaining cooking liquid through a mesh strainer (remove sachet) and into a pot, reserving 2 cups for later use. Bring the strained liquid to a boil, reduce to a simmer and let reduce down to a thicker sauce consistency.

For the enchiladas: You'll need 15 corn tortillas; 2 cups of neutral cooking oil; 2 cups of reserved cooking liquid; 3–4 cups of shredded Oaxaca, Monterey or cheddar cheese.

2. Heat a skillet with the oil over medium heat and quickly fry each tortilla.

Tortillas should not be crunchy at this point but soft and pliable for easier rolling.

3. Pour reserved cooking liquid into a flat-bottom dish and dunk each tortilla. Be sure to get both sides sauced.

4. Fill each tortilla with a generous amount of beef cheek, roll tightly and place seam side down into a baking dish. Repeat until all tortillas have been stuffed and rolled.

5. Ladle the now-reduced sauce over the top and sides of the enchiladas.

6. Cover generously with the shredded cheese and bake for 15–20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

David Muñoz's election night enchiladas recipe

Bearded chef in a white coat stands behind a metal counter in a busy kitchen with pans and industrial ovens, illuminated by warm overhead lights.

David Muñoz in the kitchen. Photo: Courtesy of Green Pastures

After Austin chef David Muñoz <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told us" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/13/desert-island-dish-david-munoz" data-vars-content-id="b63273e8-5cf5-4d63-a5d0-f3e0062f3a73" data-vars-headline="David Muñoz&#x27;s election night enchiladas recipe" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/13/desert-island-dish-david-munoz" target="_self">told us</a> that the one meal he&#x27;d want with him on a desert island is his mother&#x27;s election night enchiladas, readers asked for the recipe. <ul><li>Muñoz, who grew up in Fort Worth, is the executive chef at Henry&#x27;s at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Inn at Green Pastures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.greenpasturesaustin.com/" data-vars-content-id="b63273e8-5cf5-4d63-a5d0-f3e0062f3a73" data-vars-headline="David Muñoz&#x27;s election night enchiladas recipe" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.greenpasturesaustin.com/" target="_blank">Inn at Green Pastures</a>. This recipe originated with his mother, Aurelia Muñoz — they&#x27;d be ready when her husband, an elections judge, came home from the polls.</li></ul>

Asher Price

Featured stories

LBJ Library exhibit gets a glow up

James Talarico wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas

David Muñoz's election night enchiladas recipe

Third victim dies in Austin mass shooting

How South Asians are growing political power in Central Texas