In a shocking tragedy on Tuesday, a young Texas high school English teacher and cheerleading coach was “randomly” shot and killed at an outdoor bar in San Antonio.
Beloved Jasper High School teacher Aiden Burt, 28, was in town for the Texas High School Coaches Association conference when he was hit by a bullet at a local rooftop bar just after midnight. San Antonio police said.
Investigators said Burt was shot “randomly,” but it is not yet known who fired at her.
“Homicide detectives are working hard to bring justice to Aiden and his family, but details are limited,” the police department said in a statement. “SAPD is asking for the public’s assistance with any information regarding this tragic incident.”
Police said Burt was sitting on the rooftop patio of Smoke Sky Bar on East Crockett Street when he was struck by a bullet in his upper back. He told 12NewsNow.
She had her back to a nearby freeway, I-37, and police believe the shots came from the interstate, local news stations reported.
Burt was at the bar with other coaches from around the state when the shooting happened.
“She was sitting right next to me laughing and talking, and the next thing she knew [minute] “My knees are bleeding,” said Humble High School football coach Robert Murphy. I said it with X“The coaches did everything they could to save her life, including CPR. She was looking forward to the year ahead. It’s traumatic.”
Burt was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition after the shooting, but his life was not saved.
No other injuries were reported.
Burt has been teaching English at Jasper Middle School and Jasper High School since 2019. He also coaches the volleyball and cheerleading teams.
Jasper Independent School District Superintendent John Seybold announced her death in a statement to school officials.
“Dear Bulldog Family, We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of our staff members, Aiden Burt,” Seybold wrote. “We ask for prayers of comfort for her family and extended family, as well as the students and staff of the Jasper Independent School District.”
He told 12 News Now he was shocked by the young teacher’s death.
“Aiden was so young. She was a wonderful person, such a kind-hearted person,” Seybold told the station. “Even though she had only just begun her teaching career, she had already impacted so many people’s lives.”
Bert comes from a long line of educators in Jasper: her father and grandfather both served as principals at Jasper Middle School, and she graduated from that high school.
“She was irreplaceable. A Jasper Bulldog through and through,” Seybold said.
The school district offered grief counseling to students, staff and community members on Tuesday.
