Texas Teacher Killed by Stray Bullet at San Antonio Rooftop Bar
A 28-year-old Jasper County, Texas, teacher was tragically killed by a stray bullet early Tuesday while attending an event at a rooftop bar in San Antonio. The bullet, which may have been fired randomly from nearby I-37, struck Ayden Burt in the back, prompting authorities to open a murder investigation.
Ayden Burt was in San Antonio to attend a high school coaches convention and was at Smoke Skybar for an event related to the Texas High School Coaches Association Conference when the incident occurred just after midnight. The San Antonio Police Department reported that homicide detectives are still searching for answers.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus stated, "It's very, very difficult to put this together without a witness or some kind of video." He added, "She was struck by a single bullet in the back while she was seated outside on the patio. This appears that it may have come from the highway, someone randomly shooting as they drove by. We don't have a known suspect vehicle at the moment."
Witness Robert Murphy, identified by KENS as a local football coach, described the harrowing scene on Facebook, stating he was "truly traumatized" by sitting next to Burt moments before she was shot. "This young lady lay bleeding out in my lap as we tried desperately to get help. Please also keep my coaches in your prayers as they did everything in their power to save her life doing CPR," Murphy wrote. "I'm devastated beyond measure but will continue to look to the hills where all our help comes from."
Burt, who later died at a hospital, was a beloved teacher and coach at Jasper County High School. She had been teaching English and serving as a cheer sponsor and coach at Jasper ISD since 2019. Jasper Independent School District Superintendent John Seybold expressed sorrow over Burt's death, asking for privacy for her family and colleagues.
Adrian Martinez, owner of Smoke Skybar, posted an emotional video on Facebook, expressing his deep sadness over the senseless act of violence. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and loved ones in this very, very difficult time," he said, highlighting the broader issue of gun violence in the community and the nation.
Martinez also reflected on recent incidents of violence, stating, "Last week, someone tried to assassinate our former president. A few weeks before that, an employee working at Sonic was shot. Last year during a fiesta, multiple individuals at Market Square were shot as well. And two years ago at the state fair, there was a mass shooting." He emphasized the tragic loss of Burt, an "innocent person," due to a stray bullet.
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