A mistrial was declared on Wednesday for Austin Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an unarmed man in Austin. The announcement came after jurors were unable to reach a verdict following five days of deliberations. Prosecutors have not yet stated whether they will retry Taylor.
The incident took place in April 2020 when Taylor shot and killed Michael Ramos, a Black and Hispanic man, as he tried to drive away from police in an apartment complex parking lot. Police were responding to reports of a man with a gun using drugs inside a car. However, a search of the car later revealed no weapon.
The entire episode was captured on police video, which showed Ramos getting out of the car with his hands up and his shirt raised to show he had no gun. Despite this, Taylor ignored orders to remain outside the car and shot Ramos first with a beanbag and then with a rifle as he drove away.
During Taylor’s trial, Meko Scott, the woman who made the initial call to police, testified that she had falsely claimed to see a man with a gun. She admitted to reporting what other bystanders had said and apologized to Ramos’ family for her mistake.
Taylor’s defense attorney has not yet commented on the mistrial. Taylor has been on administrative leave since the shooting.
This is not the first time Taylor has faced charges in connection with a shooting. In 2019, he and another officer were charged with murder in the death of a man experiencing a mental health crisis. Taylor’s attorneys have argued that he had no choice but to use deadly force to protect himself.
The shooting of Michael Ramos sparked outrage and protest demonstrations from Black and Hispanic community activists in Austin. His name was invoked by demonstrators protesting the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police the following month.
The mistrial in Taylor’s case highlights the ongoing issue of police violence and the difficulties in holding officers accountable. The outcome of this trial has significant implications for the pursuit of justice in cases involving police misconduct.
It remains to be seen whether prosecutors will choose to retry Taylor, and what the next steps will be in seeking justice for the shooting of Michael Ramos.
