Key Takeaways
- An appeals court has overturned the conviction of former Austin police officer Christopher Taylor in the 2019 shooting death of Mauris DeSilva.
- Taylor was initially convicted of deadly conduct, but the appeals court declared him acquitted, citing justification for the shooting.
- The shooting occurred after officers responded to a 911 call about a man with a knife, and DeSilva advanced towards them with the knife.
- The appeals court ruled that the record establishes justification for the shooting, and the law does not require officers to interpret DeSilva’s conduct as compliance.
- The Austin Police Department has terminated Taylor, and prosecutors have dropped charges against another officer involved in the shooting, Karl Krycia, in exchange for his agreement to teach about his experience at the police training academy.
Introduction to the Case
An Austin jury convicted Taylor of deadly conduct in the death of Mauris DeSilva, a man suffering mental illness and armed with a knife. The conviction marked the first time ever in Travis County that a police officer had been found criminally liable in an on-duty fatal shooting. However, in a rare move, the Seventh Court of Appeals has overturned the conviction and declared Taylor acquitted. The appeals court ruled that the record establishes justification for the shooting, citing the body-worn camera footage that shows DeSilva advancing towards the officers with a knife.
The Shooting Incident
The shooting happened after officers responded to a 911 call at a downtown residential high-rise about a man with a knife. They confronted DeSilva with the knife feet away as they stepped off an elevator to approach him. The body-worn camera footage shows officers confined inside an elevator as the doors open onto a hallway, with DeSilva initially facing a mirror with a knife to his own throat. When the doors open, DeSilva turns toward the officers, reorients the knife away from himself and toward them, and advances in their direction. The officers have no meaningful avenue of retreat or ability to create distance, while DeSilva has the hallway behind him and does not retreat.
The Appeals Court Ruling
In a decision on Tuesday, the Seventh Court of Appeals wrote that "the record still establishes justification" for the shooting. Justice Alex Yarbrough for the court stated that "the record does not support a finding of attempted compliance" by DeSilva. At the moment deadly force was used, DeSilva turned toward officers, directed the knife away from himself, ignored commands to drop it, and advanced in a confined space. The court said that the decision to reverse the judgement of the trial court was a matter of "legal sufficiency" and "not a reweighting of evidence." When undisputed objective evidence establishes justification, a verdict resting on speculation cannot stand, according to Yarbrough.
Reaction to the Ruling
Taylor’s attorney, Doug O’Connell, issued a statement after the ruling on Tuesday evening, saying in part: "We are deeply grateful for the 7th Court of Appeals’ decision to overturn the conviction of Detective Chris Taylor and enter a judgment of acquittal in his case. Detective Taylor should never have faced prosecution for defending himself and his fellow officers against a man who threatened them with a knife. The use of force in this incident was both legal and authorized under the circumstances." The Austin Police Department said it will review the decision with the City Attorney’s Office, while the department terminated Taylor last year after he was sentenced.
Related Developments
Meanwhile, prosecutors dropped murder and deadly conduct charges against another officer involved in the shooting, Karl Krycia. Travis County District Attorney José Garza entered a unique agreement with Krycia that will require him to teach about his experience at the police training academy in exchange for the charges being dismissed. Under the agreement involving Krycia, he will teach a nationally recognized program to help officers in situations dealing with people suffering a mental health episode who have a weapon other than a knife – rather than face trial. This development highlights the complexities and challenges involved in policing and the use of force, particularly in situations involving individuals with mental health issues.