The visiting educator was killed by a stray bullet at Smoke Skybar.
A trip to San Antonio for a coaching conference took a tragic turn in the early hours of Tuesday when a stray bullet struck an educator from Jasper, Texas. Coach Ayden Burt, 28, of Jasper Independent School District was at a rooftop bar when she was shot, later dying at an area hospital.
Here’s what we know.
Deadly shooting of coach Ayden Burt
Burt was at the popular Smoke Skybar just east of downtown San Antonio when, just after midnight, a bullet struck in her in the shoulder from behind. She was sitting “with her back to the highway” when found by officers, with preliminary investigation information suggesting a shot was heard coming from near the highway.
She was transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center in critical condition with a wound to her right rear shoulder. Burt was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Unfortunately, little information about the shooter was available Tuesday morning and the investigation remains active, according to the San Antonio Police Department.
Who is Coach Ayden Burt
Burt began teaching at Jasper ISD in 2019 and has since taught English at both Jasper High School and Jasper Jr. High in East Texas. She was also a coach and a cheer sponsor, according to a statement from the district.
A page for her on the JISD website says she was a sixth grade AVID teacher, which helps prepare students for college, and a seventh grade English language arts and reading teacher.
She shared posts to social media, including videos of her working with a JISD cheer team and fun activities she participated in with students.
“When it’s Fri-YAY & the campus needs a good laugh and contagious smiles,” Burt wrote in one such post.
Burt appears to also be a graduate and former cheerleader at Jasper High School, with a 2013 story from the Beaumont Enterprise featuring her team after a trip to nationals when she was a senior.
“This is an amazing team of young ladies/cheerleaders- with strong senior leadership. This group of cheerleaders was determined to do something no other group of cheerleaders from Jasper had done- make it to the NCA Nationals,” then varsity cheer coach Liz Hadley told the Enterprise at the time.
Jasper ISD responds to Ayden Burt’s death
A statement was shared on the Jasper Junior High School Facebook page Tuesday morning, sharing details about counseling as people process Burt’s death.
“Dear Bulldog Family, It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of one of our staff members, Ayden Burt. We ask for prayers of comfort for her family, as well as her extended family, the students and staff of Jasper ISD. Counselors will be available from 5:00-7:00 this evening, July 23rd, at the Jasper Junior High Gymnasium for our students, staff, and community members to help process this loss. Ongoing support will be available to students and staff. Ayden has been teaching in Jasper ISD since 2019, teaching English at both Jasper High School and Jasper Jr. High, also serving as a Cheer Sponsor and Coach. We ask that everyone respect the privacy of the family and staff at this time.”
People soon began sharing their memories of her and condolences.
“Ayden was such a a sweet person and awesome teacher. She will be greatly missed,” wrote Cara Carter Folsom in response to the statement from JISD.
Why was Ayden Burt in San Antonio
Burt was in town for the annual Texas High School Coaches Association Coaching School & Convention, which is being held July 21 through July 23 this year. The convention offers a “wide range of education sessions on both boys and girls sports, athletic administration, as well as health and safety topics, multiple networking opportunities, rules meetings, an on-site job room, an awards banquet, and an astounding array of exhibits,” according to its website.
An estimated 16,000 attendees across coaching, support and exhibitors is expected each year.
As of this week, the conference has been struck by unexpected deaths twice in three years. New Braunfels High School basketball coach Jimmy Keresztury died after suffering a heart attack while returning to his car from the convention center.
