I just got an email about this today.
(Christopher) Ryan Briones died in the hospital from complications
due to a gun shot wound, on December 17, 2002. Those of you in Austin may have seen or heard the story on the news, as I know that KVUE had a piece on it in their Crime Stoppers section. The details are still sketchy, but he was watching movies at some friends' apartment, and then went walking back to his apartment in Crossing Place. He heard someone crying for help and he went to see if he could do anything, whereupon he was shot in the
stomach. He was able to call the apartment he left, and they called 911. He was taken to the ICU and passed away some 5 hours later.
Ryan was elected President of the chapter last month and was very excited about it - he already had many plans for his office and the chapter and had had several conversations to involve advisors and alumni in chapter business. He was the consummate brother, always there to serve and always with a happy, friendly demeanor. He was the Old Man for the
Dacy Pledge Class, a former SVP, and well on his way to high APO honors. He pledged Barkhurst semester, which was Fall 2000, so he accomplished a lot in his 2 years in Alpha Rho.
As I mentioned before, there is an investigation underway. No one seems to know what happened to the shooter or to the person who called for help, or even many details about either entity. There was an impromptu gathering tonight and the chapter really came together for each other. It's times like these that we see what it truly means to be a brother in APO.
Below is a message from this fall semester's president,
Eugene Edwards.
In brotherhood,
Erica
I regret having to inform some of you in this fashion. My hope was that most of you would get phone calls from friends, bigs, littles, etc., but I think the time has come to make everyone aware of the situation.
Yesterday morning (Tuesday) a dear brother of ours, Ryan Briones, was shot and fatally wounded. There are no words to describe how painful this will be for everyone. I'm sure we all know how dear he was to us, and how much of a true brother and friend he was to everyone that knew him. There is
no word of funeral services at the moment, but I am going to setup a grieving time for all of us to meet and be together. There will be counselors there to help you with your grief, and I think it would be wise for us to use them to help us through this very difficult time.
Ryan's family has asked that we put together a memorial service in his honor. Since most of you have left for the break we will be holding off to have the large service until January, though we might have a smaller memorial service here in Austin before Christmas.
I know that this will be difficult for all of us, and I hope that each of you rely on your brothers within the chapter for strength and
encouragement.
We all loved Ryan very much and he will undoubtedly be missed.
Yours in brotherhood,
Eugene Edwards
God, lay Ryan's soul to rest so that he can be happy in Your Kingdom.
************************************************** *
You can send notes of condolence to him via
jeugene@mail.utexas.edu
sad news for Alpha Phi Omega today
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