Austin Shooting Spurs Blood Drive, Community Rallies to Replenish Supplies

Austin, Texas – Following a mass shooting on Sixth Street early Sunday morning, the Austin community has responded with an outpouring of support, particularly through blood donations. The incident, which occurred at Burford’s bar as it was closing, left three people dead and at least 13 others injured, prompting a critical need for blood supplies.

Survivor Leads Call to Action

UT student Harper Lewis, who was present at Burford’s during the shooting, has become a vocal advocate for blood donation. She was with friends, preparing to exit the bar, when the gunfire erupted. Lewis was on the phone with her parents during the event, with her father, William Lewis, recalling hearing “screaming and loud background noise” when he answered the call.

Driven by a desire to help, Harper Lewis joined a pop-up blood drive at Austin City Hall on Monday. Her parents traveled from Dallas to be with her and also participated in the donation effort. “She was insistent upon it, it was the first thing we were going to do today,” William Lewis said, expressing his pride in his daughter’s response.

Community Response and Blood Supply Needs

The blood drive saw a significant turnout, with dozens of Austinites lining up to donate. Nick Canedo of We Are Blood highlighted the urgent need, stating that over 150 blood products were used in emergency response efforts on Sunday. “Right now it’s about replenishing the supply and bringing the community together,” Canedo explained.

Donors included Kyle Jennings, a long-time Texas resident and regular blood donor, and K Hayes, a UT freshman who was the first to sign up when the drive began at 11 a.m. Dylan Stover, a lifelong Austinite, emphasized the importance of community spirit in the face of tragedy, stating, “What happened on Sixth, that’s not what Austin is about. This is what Austin is about – doing what we can, lining up here to donate blood.”

First Responders and Ongoing Support

Selena Xie, who previously oversaw the EMS union and continues to function as a medic, played a key role in organizing the last-minute blood drive. She was also among the first responders at the scene of the shooting. Xie noted the strong desire within the community to give back, with many paramedics also volunteering to donate.

Due to the overwhelming response, the blood drive had to cut off the line at 3 p.m., despite some individuals waiting until 5 p.m. To donate. We Are Blood encourages those who were unable to donate on Monday to consider donating at any time, with a particular need for O-negative blood, which is the universal donor type.

A City United

The Lewis family’s experience underscores the emotional impact of the shooting. William Lewis expressed concern for his daughter’s well-being but also acknowledged her strength. Harper Lewis herself emphasized the importance of community support, stating, “During it, we all felt so helpless. People who were there, the people who heard about it after, I think if there’s one thing people can do is arrive here and donate blood.”