S. Austin man’s shooting death a shock

Family, friends call tragedy ‘anomaly’; tips reward offered.

Family and friends are stunned by the shooting death of 32-year-old Christian Meroney at a South Austin apartment complex Monday.

Jackson Dyre-Borowicz, who knew Meroney for eight years, called him passionate, charismatic and well-loved — the last person anyone would expect to be killed in such a gruesome way.

had all talked to him before. No red flags, nothing that would have thrown suspicion or our sense of worry,” Dyre-Borowicz said on Wednesday. “This was an anomaly.”

Meroney was found shot at the Post South Lamar Apartments, where friends said he lived alone.

Austin police said they were called to the mixeduse complex for a shooting or stabbing at 1:45 p.m. and found Meroney with obvi- ous trauma to his body, but they did not elaborate on the extent of his injuries.

Despite rescue efforts, Meroney died at the scene from a gunshot wound, police said. His death has been ruled a homicide. A suspect had not been identified at press time Wednesday.

Authorities are offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.

Dyre-Borowicz on Wednes- day said friends were setting up a GoFundMe account to help increase the reward money. Several other friends have set up other accounts to raise money for the family and funeral expenses.

Meroney’s father, Mitch, said he was still in shock.

Christian “was a great per- son, a highly intelligent indi- vidual,” he said Wednesday. “He had lots of friends, a very social-type person, loved his family, was a religious young man.”

Meroney grew up in the Dallas suburb of Rockwall but moved around as a kid before settling in Austin 10 years ago, his family and friends said. He was knowledgeable about contempo- rary issues, politics and history, Dyre-Borowicz said.

“That was sort of his gift, the ability to connect and bond with anybody and be knowledgeable on any topic you brought,” he said. “There were very few people that would say something nega- tive about him.”

Meroney graduated from the University of Texas and was an avid sports fan, friends said.

Up until about 1:15 p.m. the day he died, Meroney had been active on the sports fan page Orangebloods.com, bantering about soccer, Dyre-Borowicz said.

The we b site at 1 p.m. Wednesday went offline d uring the Croatia vs. England soccer game for a moment of silence to honor Meroney.

“We are all really lamenting this loss because of just how bright of a light he was,” friend Bob Peck said Wednesday. “Christian was a guy that absolutely encapsulated the term ‘brotherhood.’ That’s why social situations were so effortless for him — he was fully, genuinely invested in making an authentic, substantial connection with you.”

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Austin police at 512-477-3588 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.

Blame summer storms and Fourth of July fireworks for an uptick in the number of animals dropped off at the Austin Animal Center in recent days.

Fireworks and thunderstorms can trigger dogs and cats to run away because they are scared and confused by the noise.

The center took in almost 380 animals — including 212 dogs, 162 cats and 3 birds — between July 4 and Tuesday, center spokeswoman Jennifer Olohan said. During a similar period last year, the center took in 187 dogs and 155 cats, she said.

On the Fourth of July alone, the center took in 54 animals. Last year, 47 animals were dropped off during the holiday. This week, on a stormy Monday, 59 animals were taken in, Olohan said.

But on normal day with- out rainy weather or fireworks, only 10 to 15 animals are typically dropped off at the center.

The influx of animals means the center is now over- flowing with furry friends. Center officials have had to double up on dogs and cats in kennels, and some animals are being housed in meeting rooms to help save space, Olohan said.

The animal center can hold 544 animals, but it is cur

holding 700, Olohan said, but around 400 animals are being fostered to 100 families.

Animal care costs the center about $40 a day for each critter, she said.

Adoption and reclaiming fees will be waived through Sunday. The center also wants more foster families for dogs using pop-up crates. Those looking to foster a dog can sign up at the center and be eligible to take the animal home the same day, Olohan said.

“Summer is a really high intake time,” Olohan said.