Texas
Beloved Texas teacher, 28, ‘randomly’ shot dead at outdoor bar during coaches convention
A young Texas high school English teacher and cheer coach was “randomly” shot and killed at an outdoor bar in San Antonio in a shocking tragedy Tuesday.
The beloved Jasper High educator Ayden Burt, 28, was at a local rooftop bar while in town for the Texas High School Coaches Association Conference when she was struck by a bullet just after midnight, San Antonio police said.
Investigators said Burt was “randomly” shot but don’t yet know who fired at her.
“Our Homicide Detectives are working to bring justice to Ayden and her family; however, details are limited,” the police department said in a statement. “SAPD is asking for the public’s help for any information regarding this tragic incident.”
A bullet struck Burt in the upper back while she was sitting on the rooftop patio of Smoke Skybar on East Crockett Street, police told 12 News Now.
Her back was towards the nearby highway, I-37, and police believe the shot was fired from the Interstate, the local news station reported.
Burt was with other coaches from across the state at the bar when the shooting occurred.
“She was sitting right next to me laughing and talking and the next [minute] bleeding in 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 excited about the upcoming year. Traumatizing.”
Burt was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition following the shooting but she couldn’t be saved.
No other injuries were reported.
Burt taught English at both Jasper Junior High and Jasper High School since 2019. She also coached volleyball and cheerleading teams.
Jasper ISD Superintendent John Seybold announced her death in a statement to school community members.
“Dear Bulldog Family, It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of one of our staff members, Ayden Burt,” Seybold wrote. “We ask for prayers of comfort for her family, as well as her extended family, the students and staff of Jasper ISD.”
He told 12 News Now that he was in shock by the death of the young teacher.
“Ayden was so young. She was a great person, very kindhearted,” Seybold told the station. “Just starting her teaching career, she had already touched so many lives.”
Burt came from a line of Jasper educators. Her father and grandfather both served as 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 Tuesday.
ARLINGTON — North Crowley showed out on Saturday in its dazzling 50-21 victory over Austin Westlake in the 6A Division I state title game, winning the program’s second state championship and putting Fort Worth high school football on the map in front of 36,120 fans at AT&T Stadium.
Until North Crowley took the field at 7:30 p.m., there was a possibility the Dallas-Fort Worth area might boast only one state champion in 2024. Celina routed Kilgore 55-21 in the 4A Division I state championship to capture the program’s ninth state title and its first under coach Bill Elliott.
But North Texas teams came up short in the next three title games, the region’s worst showing at state since 2021, when South Oak Cliff became the first Dallas ISD school to win a recognized state championship since 1958, but Denton Guyer and Duncanville fell in the 6A state championship games.
Two-time state champion South Oak Cliff missed a last-second field goal, falling 38-35 to third-year program Richmond Randle in the 5A Division II state title game Friday night. It was SOC’s second straight loss in the state championship game.
“The future is still bright,” South Oak Cliff coach Jason Todd said. “We just gotta find out what’s going to get us over this hump.”
Smithson Valley, from the San Antonio area, topped Highland Park 32-20 as the six-time state champion faded in the second half of the 5A Division I state title game Saturday afternoon.
In the second game of the day, eight-time state champion Southlake Carroll extended its title drought to 13 years with a 24-17 loss to Austin Vandegrift in the 6A Division II game.
“It’ll happen one day. I’m excited about what the future holds,” said Carroll coach Riley Dodge, who fell to 0-2 in state title games as a coach.
The Dallas area claimed three football state champions in 2023 with Anna winning the 4A Division I state title and Duncanville and DeSoto sweeping the 6A Division I and II state championships, respectively. The southern Dallas County schools also swept the 6A state championships in 2022, when South Oak Cliff won its second straight 5A Division II state title.
But this year, the rest of Texas didn’t let the Dallas area, a high school football mecca, run the table. Teams from each of the state’s major metros — Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio —- won a title in each division of the UIL’s two highest classifications.
Even before this week’s state championship games, 2024 seemed to mark a changing of the guard. Neither Duncanville, DeSoto nor Houston-area power Galena Park North Shore made it to AT&T Stadium this year. Nor did 12-time UIL state champion Aledo, the juggernaut west of Fort Worth that had won the last two 5A Division I state championships.
But North Crowley did, after knocking off both DeSoto and Duncanville this season. North Texas might not have dominated the competition as it has in recent years, but for a third straight season, the king of 6A reigns in Dallas-Fort Worth.
“When you get to this point, there’s only one team that’s standing that’s hoisting the trophy. And fortunately for us, this year it’s us and we just happen to be from 817,” North Crowley coach Ray Gates said. “We’re elated to be able to bring that type of recognition back to our community, just to let people know that when you talk about this area, when you talk about Metroplex football, you can’t forget about us.”
On Twitter/X: @t_myah
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Quinn Ewers on making the most of his moments as a Texas Longhorn
“That’s the fun part about playing at program like this. Being able to sit back and just understand the pride and tradition that comes with playing here.”
Texas football will be without star receiver Isaiah Bond on Saturday, who was shown in street clothes prior to the Longhorns’ first-round College Football Playoff game against Clemson.
No. 5 Texas (11-2) hosts No. 12 Clemson (10-3) in the third CFP game of 2024, with quarterback Quinn Ewers needing to rely on the Longhorns’ other receivers in their opening round. Bond is dealing with an ankle injury, and was shown on the sideline with a boot during pregame warmups Saturday.
Bond suffered the injury in Texas’ loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game, putting his status into question. Bond has 532 receiving yards with six touchdowns in 12 games this season.
The first-year transfer from Alabama was one of the most sought-after transfer portal recruits in the country last offseason, ranked as the No. 4 overall player and No. 1 receiver of the cycle.
Here’s everything to know about Bond’s injury:
Isaiah Bond injury update
Bond will miss Texas’ game on Saturday against Clemson with an ankle injury, as he was shown in street clothes and with a boot on his ankle during pregame warmups.
The former five-star transfer portal recruit suffered a high-ankle sprain against Georgia in the SEC championship game on Dec. 7. Texas hopes to get back its top receiver in the next weeks of the CFP if it beats Clemson on Saturday.
What is Isaiah Bond’s injury?
Bond suffered a high-ankle sprain against Georgia in the SEC championship game.
Bond was shown with a boot on his foot ahead of Texas’ game against Clemson on Saturday.
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