SAN ANTONIO — An East Texas teacher was killed by a stray bullet early Tuesday morning at a downtown San Antonio patio bar.

What You Need To Know

  • Ayden Burt, a 28-year-old English teacher and cheer coach in the Jasper Independent School District, was visiting San Antonio for the Texas High School Coaches Association’s (THSCA) Coaches School

  • Burt was attending a networking event at Smoke Skybar, a popular downtown bar and event location, when she was shot in the back right shoulder a little after midnight on Tuesday, the San Antonio Police Department said

  • According to police, Burt was sitting with her back turned to Interstate 37 on the upper-level deck of the bar when a gunshot was heard from the highway, which then hit her. She was taken to the hospital, where she pronounced dead

  • She was talking with some other coaches when the shooting happened. A person sitting next to her posted on X, formerly Twitter, about how she was laughing and discussing how excited she was for the upcoming school year

Ayden Burt, a 28-year-old English teacher and cheer coach in the Jasper Independent School District, was visiting San Antonio for the Texas High School Coaches Association’s (THSCA) Coaches School. Burt was attending a networking event at Smoke Skybar, a popular downtown bar and event location, when she was shot in the back right shoulder a little after midnight on Tuesday, the San Antonio Police Department said.

According to police, Burt was sitting with her back turned to Interstate 37 on the upper-level deck of the bar when a gunshot was heard from the highway, which then hit her. She was taken to the hospital, where she pronounced dead.

“At this time, it is unknown who the suspects are, and why they shot the victim,” police said in a statement.

She was talking with some other coaches when the shooting happened. A person sitting next to her posted on X, formerly Twitter, about how she was laughing and discussing how excited she was for the upcoming school year.

“She was sitting right next to me laughing and talking and the next bleeding in my lap,” Humble High School football coach Robert Murphy said in the post. “My coaches did everything they could performing CPR etc to save her life.”

THSCA Executive Director Joe Martin posted on X saying Burt was a “wonderful person and a great coach who was passionate about the work she was doing to help the young people in East Texas excel.”

“To be laughing and sharing stories with her colleagues one moment and fighting for her life the next due to a mindless and heinous act is difficult to comprehend,” Martin said. “San Antonio has always been a great host and a safe place for our coaches and it’s why we love coming there. We know the authorities will work tirelessly to find the perpetrators and we are hopeful they will be brought to justice.”

Martin also said the organization will make a donation to Burt’s family “to provide additional support during this incredibly difficult time.”

The owner of Smoke Skybar, Adrian Martinez, posted a tearful message on Facebook about the shooting saying he is working closely with authorities to help the investigation.

“I’ve never experienced a situation quite like this,” Martinez said. “Last night, I might have slept 10 to 15 minutes at the most. I’m a little tired. I’m exhausted trying to process all of this.”

Jasper ISD Superintendent John Seybold posted a statement to the community on Facebook. He asked that everyone respect the privacy of Burt’s family, as well as the district staff.