Admired Texas High School Volleyball Coach Killed by Stray Bullet

28-year-old Jasper ISD volleyball coach, Ayden Burt, was tragically shot and killed by a stray bullet just after midnight while visiting a rooftop bar in San Antonio with coworkers on Tuesday, July 23rd.

The beloved coach was visiting town for the Texas High School Coaches Association Conference and was sitting up on the top patio of Smoke Skybar, enjoying time with fellow coaches with her back toward Interstate 37 when she was suddenly struck in the back by a single bullet. Police believe the bullet was likely shot at random by someone driving down the highway.

Robert Murphy, a high school football coach at Humble High who was sitting with Burt on the rooftop bar during the incident wrote on X:

"Prayers for Ayden Burt's family and community. She was sitting right next to me laughing and talking and the next bleeding in my lap. My coaches did everything they could performing CPR etc to save her life. She was excited about the upcoming year. Traumatizing."

There is currently no known suspect.

Counselors at Jasper ISD are available for students and staff members struggling with the heartbreaking loss of Ayden Burt. Not only was she a volleyball coach, but she was also an English teacher and served as a Cheer Sponsor.

Police in San Antonio are asking anyone with information to contact the SAPD Homicide Unit at (210) 207-7635.

Please take a moment to remind your friends and family members of the importance of gun safety. This senseless tragedy should never have happened. Let's do our best to keep one another safe and always remember to discharge firearms responsibly.