Mistrial declared for Texas officer in fatal shooting of unarmed man that sparked outcry

AUSTIN, Texas — A judge has declared a mistrial for a Texas police officer who fatally shot an unarmed man in 2020, a case that had ignited community outcry and fueled social justice protests in Austin weeks later.

Travis County District Court Judge Dayna Blazey announced the mistrial Wednesday for Austin Officer Christopher Taylor after the jury deliberated for more than 34 hours and was unable to reach a verdict. Defense attorneys said the jury was split 8-4 in favor of a not-guilty verdict.

Prosecutors must now evaluate whether to take Taylor to trial again in coming months or attempt to otherwise resolve the case, including through a possible dismissal. Deadlocked juries that result in a mistrial are rare in criminal cases.

Taylor fatally shot Michael Ramos, a 42-year-old Black and Hispanic man, in April 2020 outside an Austin apartment complex. Taylor is thought to be the first officer in the Austin Police Department’s history to be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting, which came amid a wave of indictments against officers by Travis County prosecutors on allegations of excessive force.

The shooting drew widespread criticism and racial injustice protests in 2020, which were also inspired by the murder of George Floyd. Thousands of people protested in Austin streets and called for police reform.

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The night Christopher Taylor fatally shot Michael Ramos

Taylor fatally shot Ramos after he and fellow officers were called to a southeast Austin apartment complex to investigate reports of a man with a gun using drugs with other people inside a car in the parking lot. A 911 caller had reported that Ramos had a gun, although police later determined he was not armed.

When officers arrived, then-Police Chief Brian Manley said Ramos got out of the car with his hands up and his shirt raised as if to show he had no gun in his waistband. But according to police, Ramos did not obey officer's orders to remain outside the car and was shot with a "less-lethal” round.

Ramos then got into a vehicle and began driving when Taylor fired at the vehicle. A search of the car failed to turn up a gun, police said later.

The 911 caller, Meko Scott, testified at trial that she hadn't seen a gun and was relaying information from other residents.

Witnesses captured the shooting on video, and Taylor’s use of lethal force immediately prompted questions.

Austin officer also faces murder charges in connection to 2019 death

Taylor, who joined the force in 2014, has been on administrative since the shooting that killed Ramos.

But Taylor and another officer face murder charges in connection to the 2019 death of Mauris DeSilva, who was experiencing a mental health crisis when he was shot and killed. Officer Karl Krycia, who was also present during the Ramos shooting, has been charged with murder for shooting at DeSilva.

Police said DeSilva moved toward officers with a knife. Taylor’s attorneys said in a 2021 statement that he had no choice but to use deadly force to protect himself.

Trials in those cases are expected in early 2024. 

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Attorneys, activists respond to mistrial

Chris Harris, director of policy of the Austin Justice Coalition, said the outcome of the trial was a "miscarriage of justice."

“It betrays the response that people right on the scene had when they saw this happen live in front of them," he said. "It betrays the response of the broader community that showed out and protested in numbers never before seen in this city."

Harris added that the "interests of justice demand that the district attorney retry the case."

The Travis County district attorney's office has not made any decision public yet. Defense attorney Ken Ervin said he and fellow attorney Doug O'Connell were committed to trying the case "as many times as it takes to get a not-guilty."

Taylor "asked us to convey the fact that he’s very, very sorry and traumatized at this event," O'Connell said after the mistrial was declared. "But as we said during the course of this trial, while this may have been a tragedy, it's absolutely not murder."

Contributing: The Associated Press