In the heart of Austin, Texas, a city known for its vibrant nightlife and live music, the life of 30-year-old Jorge Pederson was tragically cut short on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Originally from Minnesota, the aspiring mixed martial arts fighter had moved to Austin just two weeks prior to pursue his dream of fighting professionally and had recently started a new job.
On that fateful night, Pederson was at Buford's Backyard Beer Garden on West Sixth Street when a gunman opened fire just
before closing time. The chaotic scene left two other individuals, 19-year-old Ryder Harrington and 21-year-old Savitha Shan, dead and more than a dozen others wounded. Pederson sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a local hospital where he was placed on life support. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries and was taken off life support on Monday, March 2.
Friends and family remembered Pederson, affectionately known as 'George', as a kind, funny, and caring individual with a mischievous sense of humor. He was a passionate and dedicated athlete who was on the verge of his first professional MMA fight, scheduled for May of that year. His coaches and training partners described him as a talented and charismatic fighter who brought a sense of fun to the grueling work of training.
The suspected shooter was identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne. He was killed by police at the scene of the mass shooting. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack, with the possibility of it being an act of terrorism being explored. Reports indicated that Diagne was wearing clothing with an Iranian flag design. The incident left the Austin community in shock and mourning the senseless loss of life, including that of a young man who had just begun a new and promising chapter.
