In Austin, police officers have been indicted for their connection in an officer-involved shooting. Officers shot a man who almost ran officers over with a vehicle. A year later, he moved toward officers with a knife.
Grand Jury Decision
In Travis County, a grand jury indicted Officer Christopher Taylor and Officer Karl Krycia for a 2019 officer-involved shooting. The officers shot Mauris DeSilva, who was holding a knife while in the midst of a mental health crisis.
As a result of the indictment, the two officers are being held at $100,000 bail with charges of murders and deadly discharge of a firearm. The Austin Police Department said DeSilva was holding the knife to his throat when the officers arrived.
When they ordered him to put the knife down, he initially dropped it to his side. But, according to attorney Ken Ervin, he would not drop the knife. Ervin said, "(He) was told repeatedly to drop the knife, and he did not."
According to the police department, DeSilva moved toward Taylor and Krycia with the knife in his hand, and the officers shot him. APD released a statement saying, " As Dr.DeSilva approached the officers, Officers Krycia and Taylor fired their duty weapons, and another officer deployed a taser."
Families Perspective
The family's attorney, Brad Vinson, said DeSilva was just trying to "respond to their authority." He also stated that the person who made the 911 call said that DeSilva was having a mental health crisis.
He believes that they should have responded differently or brought along a health care professional. "Vinson said to KXAN, " They didn't handle it like that. And because of that, someone died when they shouldn't have."
At this time, it is not known whether or not Taylor and Krycia knew that DeSilva was having mental health issues. Ervin admits that knowing likely would not have changed a thing.
Ervin states, "That knife is going to supersede everything else." Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza did not allow a use of force expert to give his testimony in front of the grand jury. This testimony said the officers were legally justified.
DeSilva's family is looking for justice to help with their grief, while Garza attempts to fulfill campaign promises. Officer Taylor has also been indicted for the murder of career criminal Michael Ramos. A case Garza promised he would put at the "top of his investigation list."
What is our country coming to when a known criminal who wants to kill police is held up as a hero??? If the scumbag was mentally ill why in the hell didn't his moron family get him, help??? I guess it is easier for them to let the police handle their problems and then if anything goes wrong they can blame the police. I vote in favor to let the accused police out of jail to do their jobs. This country is becoming morally sick. I stand behind the police for doing their job!!
You forgot the WRONGFUL DEATH lawsuit that the family will file. What's next, will the police have to carry a net to seduce a scumbag without a gun???
Then they would call it inhumane to use a net.
They may get more millions than the George Floyd family did.
ABSOLUTELY ! EVEN IF IT WAS KNOWN HE HAD MENTAL ISSUES ! WHY DID HE HAVE MENTAL ISSUES! WHAT CAUSED THE MENTAL ISSUES DRUGS- ALCOHOL ??? WHATEVER? NO POLICE OFFICER SHOULD PUT THEIR LIVES AND LIVES OF OTHERS IN DANGER OF A DERANGED MENTAL PERSON - THEY WERE CALLED BECAUSE THE SUBJECT COULD NOT BE SUBDUED. THE FAMILY & PROSCUTER SAYS BRING A MENTAL HEALTH PERSON WITH THEM? WHAT PROFESSIONAL DESIRES OR IS QUALIFIED TO CONFRONT A KNIFE WIELDING OUT OF CONTROL CRAZED SUBJECT.
The officer who deployed the Taser was right. The officers who used deadly force were also right if the Taser did not work. As for having an ambulance there, police would not have allowed the EMS to get close until it was safe. If the Taser did not stop him from advancing then it is the bad guy's fault that he got shot. To see the body cam footage would be great. Remember one thing "a man with a knife can cross a room faster than you can draw your weapon". This is taught in the Law Enforcement Academy.
The City of Austin is run by fools and idiots because so many of the residents/voters are stupid. Austin used to be a beautiful city and a very pleasant place to live but it no longer is. I once saw a bumper stick that read, "Hate the cops, Next time you are in trouble call a hippie".
that is such a brilliant statement. can i send it to the democratic socialist party?
before you bitch about the way things in america will you tell us who you voted for.
are you real proud of your choice .2022 we hope there are more people voting as proud americans. americans only defence is 2a. don't push it but don't run from it. kill only to protect america and family.
I think you interpreted John Wood’s message wrong. His mistake was after “Hate the cops” should have been a ? Mark instead of a comma.
Just great now our police must stand still and decide if a perp is mentally ill or just out to do them harm and all this has to be accomplished in a matter of seconds boy do we expect a lot from officers. The facts of this case may be different but the way it is presented the guy should have simply dropped the knife and problem solved.
99.9% of all the officer involved shootings would be solved if the perps would just follow commands and not resist. Evey one ive seen or heard about in the last 2 years have been because they didnt comply and all would still be alive if they had.
It is truly amazing that we have any police officers after working with this level of stupidity.This man failed to obey police and made aggressive moves with a deadly weapon. The police acted according to police standards. I do feel sorry for the man’s family but beyond that all I see is another piece of trash removed from society!,
The idiots who have indicted these police officers have "20/20" hindsight. How in the world would anyone possibly know that DeSilva had mental problems? What difference does that make? I don't care what anyone is suffering from. It does not justify being a criminal and assaulting, or threatening anyone much less a police officer. I would have shot the scumbag tool
Our officers deserve to finish their shift and go home to their families without playing games with losers who apparently have little or nothing to lose if they break the law, go to jail, or take their last breath due to an encounter with an officer who is just trying to keep the peace. I've said it before: Every police officer in the country should agree to walk off the job on a date certain until working conditions and expectations are made favorable to protect the life and liberty of each officer.
If you are incapable of comprehending that someone who is legally issued a firearm and instructed in its use, and is paid to use it when another person carrying a weapon threatens harm and violence, then God help you. A police officer wants to keep himself and others free from harm and violence. He or she also wants to go home after their shift and not the morgue or emergency room so that they can return for another day.
They were legally justified as soon as the suspect came within 21 feet of the Officers. A suspect can cover that distance in less than 2 seconds, about the time it takes to discharge your weapon to protect yourself.
What about Ashley Babbitt she didn’t even have a weapon nor did the lieutenant issue an order to her.So where is the justice in any case that they use a dual accountability for officers?
I should also note that none of the protesters had weapons and if words were the problem maybe he should have warned her?
It is very disconcerting how many judges and prosecutors are allowed to enact their own private desires over the existing law. Why have an impartial safeguard of constitutionally based law when we allow elected officials to follow their own agendas?
Another Soros DA??
How many millions is the family looking for? How many millions will Austin offer them?
Will someone start a go-fund-me? Should at least get as much as George Forman family got.
I'm fairly certain the family of the "victim" will feel much, much better after their financial settlement.
This chit realy has to stop.
He was having a mental health crisis? He certainly was. Anytime someone goes after a cop with a knife and the cop has a gun and every right to defend himself, he has a bad mental health crisis. What was the cop supposed to do? Just exactly what he did. There shouldn't be any question as to whether what the cop did was the right thing to do. He had no choice. This man may have killed him and anyone he could get hold of. This is crazy.