The anguished parents of Austin mass shooting victim Savitha Shan said the loss of their only daughter has left an “irreplaceable void” in the lives of everyone who loved her.
Shan, 21, was a star student at University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, where she was pursuing a dual degree in management information systems and economics.
“Savitha was a bright, compassionate, and deeply caring young woman whose presence brought warmth, comfort, and joy to everyone who knew her,” her stricken parents wrote in a statement.
“Her sudden and heartbreaking passing has left an irreplaceable void in our lives and in the lives of all who loved her. The loss feels unreal and profoundly unfair, and the space she once brightened now echoes with sorrow.”
Her grieving parents also spared a thought for the other victims of the massacre perpetrated by Senegalese immigrant Ndiaga Diagne, 53, who opened fire outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden around 2 a.m. Sunday.
“As we grieve this unimaginable loss, we also keep in our hearts the other victims of this tragedy. We extend our sincere prayers to those who were injured and to their families, and we hope for their full and speedy recovery.”
The family has planned a private celebration of life ceremony for their departed daughter.
Three people were killed in the shooting at the popular roadhouse-style nightlife spot, including 19-year-old Texas Tech student Ryder Harrington and Jorge Pederson, 30, a competitive MMA fighter from Minnesota.
Thirteen others were wounded in the rampage, two of whom remain in critical condition, according to Austin Police.