Texas teacher Ayden Burt was “randomly” shot in an outdoor bar during a coaching conference

A young English teacher and cheerleading coach at a Texas high school was “randomly” shot and killed in an open-air bar in San Antonio on Tuesday in a shocking tragedy.

Popular Jasper High teacher Ayden Burt, 28, was on a rooftop at a local bar while in town for the Texas High School Coaches Association conference when she was struck by a bullet shortly after midnight, San Antonio police said.

Investigators said Burt was shot “randomly” but did not yet know who shot her.

“Our homicide detectives are working to bring justice to Ayden and her family, but details are scarce,” police said in a statement. “SAPD is asking the public for help with any information regarding this tragic incident.”

A bullet struck Burt in the upper back as she sat on the rooftop patio of Smoke Skybar on East Crockett Street, police told 12 News Now.

She had her back to the nearby I-37 freeway and police believe the shot was fired from the interstate, the local news station reported.

Burt was at the bar with other coaches from across the state when the shooting occurred.

“She was sitting right next to me, laughing and talking, and the next minute she was bleeding on my lap,” Humble High School football coach Robert Murphy said on X. “My coaches did everything they could, performing CPR, etc., to save her life. She was looking forward to the year ahead. Traumatic.”

Burt was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition after the shooting, but could not be saved.

No further injuries were reported.

Burt has taught English at both Jasper Junior High and Jasper High School since 2019. She has also coached volleyball and cheerleading teams.

John Seybold, superintendent of Jasper ISD, announced her death in a statement to members of the school community.

“Dear Bulldog Family, It is with heavy hearts that we learned of the passing of one of our staff members, Ayden Burt,” Seybold wrote. “We ask for comforting prayers for her family, as well as her extended family, the students and staff of Jasper ISD.”

He told 12 News Now that the young teacher’s death had shocked him.

“Ayden was so young. She was a great person, very kind-hearted,” Seybold told the station. “She had just started her teaching career and had already touched so many lives.”

Burt came from a family of Jasper educators. Her father and grandfather were both principals of Jasper Junior High and she was a graduate of the high school.

“She was irreplaceable. A Jasper Bulldog through and through,” Seybold said.

The school district offered grief counseling for students, staff and community members on Tuesday.