In a statement issued on Tuesday that identified Monica Loera, 43, by her birth name and used masculine pronouns, the Austin Police Department said Loera was shot around 3 a.m. local time on Jan. 22. She was taken to hospital, where she later died.



On Wednesday, police said they arrested JonCasey William Rowell, 29, over Loera's death. He was charged with first degree murder and is being held in the Travis county jail on a $250,000 bond, according to prison records.

According to his arrest affidavit, Rowell was invited to Loera's home by text message, but he later returned and argued with her about a possible theft, the Austin-American Statesman reported.

On Friday, a report in the Austin Chronicle revealed that Loera identified as a trans woman.

“She was funny, [and] beautiful,” a close friend told the Chronicle. “I never saw her as David, I saw her as Monica. She loved Madonna and she loved to cook.”