South Austin Pizzeria Owner Speaks After Being Threatened With Gun

Jeremy Shirk, the proprietor of Conans Pizza South in South Austin, has shared his experience of being held at gunpoint. This incident occurred on Thursday, October 15, just 30 minutes before he was set to host a fundraiser for a local school. Shirk described how a homeless man entered his restaurant on W Stassney Lane, appearing intoxicated and creating a disturbance inside. Shirk asked the man to leave and followed him outside to ensure he departed. It was at this point that the situation escalated dramatically.

As Shirk was escorting him into the parking lot, the man suddenly turned and aimed a handgun at Shirk’s face. Security footage from the restaurant captured the shocking moment, showing the man dropping two of his bags before retrieving the gun from his backpack and pointing it at Shirk multiple times. Refusing to back down, Shirk yelled at the man until he eventually left the premises. Following the confrontation, Shirk contacted the authorities, and the Austin Police Department arrested the suspect shortly thereafter. The individual was identified as Austin Shiel, 30 years old, and faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Shiel has a criminal record dating back to 2014, which includes felony assault, theft, and possession charges.

Shirk expressed that he has faced numerous violent situations in his neighborhood and feels desensitized to such encounters. He attributes much of the prevailing chaos to a local nonprofit, The Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, which he believes contributes to safety concerns in the vicinity. Shirk claimed that after utilizing the center’s services, individuals often disperse into neighboring areas, causing disturbances. The Sunrise Navigation Center, which provides essential services to the homeless, claims to assist up to 300 individuals daily and has reportedly helped over 5,000 people secure safe and affordable housing since its establishment in 2015.

Despite the center’s efforts, Shirk argues that its presence adversely affects his restaurant’s safety. He alleges that past encounters with homeless individuals have led to break-ins, citing an incident where he recognized a burglar receiving services from the Sunrise the following day.

In a statement responding to Shirk’s comments, the Sunrise Navigation Center highlighted its success and collaboration with local government and law enforcement to enhance public safety. They emphasized their commitment to addressing homelessness effectively in partnership with the community.

While Shirk supports the mission of the Sunrise Navigation Center, he insists on the necessity for it to relocate further from schools and residential areas. He referenced a previous lawsuit against the center by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which asserted the organization was harming the quality of life in the neighborhood. Shirk stressed his personal connection to homelessness and called for comprehensive solutions to address addiction and safety concerns. FOX 7 Austin has reached out to city officials for their plans on addressing the homeless situation in the W Stassney Lane area but has not yet received a response.