Court overturns conviction of former Austin cop convicted in shooting

The Texas 7th Circuit Court of Appeals acquitted former Austin Police Department Officer Christopher Taylor, who was previously convicted of on-the-job shooting and sentenced to two years in prison.

“This case comes down to a single, inescapable question: When an elevator door opens to reveal a man wielding a knife and advancing toward officers, can an officer reasonably believe deadly force was necessary to prevent an imminent homicide? The jury concluded no. The record and applicable law dictate the opposite.” opinion expressed.

“After a not guilty plea, Appellant Christopher Taylor was found guilty by a jury of deadly conduct by discharging a firearm,” the court said. “We reverse it and acquit it.”

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Taylor was sentenced to two years in prison He was first convicted of deadly conduct and sent to prison after being charged with murder in the 2019 shooting death of 46-year-old Mauris DeSilva.

DeSilva was in the midst of a mental health crisis, wandering around an apartment complex, threatening to harm himself and holding a knife to his throat, but failed to drop the knife despite officers’ instructions.

Taylor and another officer opened fire during the incident, while another officer fired a stun gun, according to background in the appeals court’s decision.

“In 2019, Appellant, then an Austin Police Department officer, and three fellow officers responded to a 911 call at an apartment building in downtown Austin. A resident named Mauris DeSilva was seen wandering the halls with a knife to his throat and threatening suicide,” the document explains.

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Austin police officer Christopher Taylor listens during a sentencing hearing at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Jay Janner/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

“Body camera footage showed DeSilva looking into the hallway mirror as the elevator doors opened, holding a knife to his throat. He turned and approached the officers. They had not assigned a single officer to give commands, and all four barked orders, including ‘show your hands’ and ‘drop the knife,'” the document said.

“DeSilva lowered the knife to his side but continued to advance. At almost the same time, he fired a stun gun and two officers who drew their weapons also fired. Appellant fired five shots, while the other officer fired twice. DeSilva died at the scene,” the document said.

“The appellant was charged with deadly conduct with a firearm and pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense and defense of others,” the document said. The jury found Taylor guilty and the court sentenced him to “two years in prison,” his statement said.

Fox News Digital previously spoke to members of law enforcement in Austin who said Taylor’s investigation represents malicious targeting of police officers by Travis County’s progressive district attorney, José Garza.

In response to the overturning of Taylor’s conviction this week, Austin Police Union President Michael Bullock said the appeals court decision “once again demonstrates that District Attorney Jose Garza manipulated the criminal justice system by repeatedly filing charges against Detective Taylor until the jury pool was so tainted that an impartial verdict could not be rendered.”

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“Fortunately, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals saw this and did its part by reversing and acquitting Detective Taylor,” the union leader said. he said. “Travis County and District Attorney Garza have demonstrated that they cannot create their own version of justice by deviating from and manipulating state law while ignoring police practices.”

The union leader called on Garza to “immediately drop all remaining charges against Austin Police Officers related to his political attacks.”

“The men and women of the Austin Police Department must be allowed to do the job they signed up for, protecting the citizens of Austin and the State of Texas, without fear of these countless political investigations,” Bullock said. “With this decision, the madness must end and common sense must prevail.”

Taylor’s trial attorney, Doug O’Connell, welcomed the decision to overturn the conviction.

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza poses in front of the Austin skyline in a portrait from the county website. (Travis County Prosecutor’s Office Website)

“We are deeply grateful for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to overturn Detective Chris Taylor’s conviction and grant an acquittal in his case. Detective Taylor should never have faced prosecution for defending himself against a man who threatened them and his fellow officers with a knife. The use of force in this incident was both lawful and authorized under the circumstances.” long description.

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Garza has long been the subject of criticism from law enforcement. “War on the police” claim After the Soros-backed district attorney campaigned to indict police officers and “reimagine” policing in Austin. Soros contributed $652,000 to the Texas Justice and Public Safety PAC in the months leading up to the 2020 Travis County District Attorney election, according to campaign finance records. The same PAC spent almost $1 million on digital and mail ads to help Garza’s campaign.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office for comment on the overturning of Taylor’s conviction but did not immediately receive a response.