The Travis County District Attorney’s office has dismissed the murder charge against an Austin police officer who was indicted in 2021 for the 2020 shooting death of Michael Ramos.
The decision, announced earlier this week, cited insufficient evidence to proceed with the case.
Christopher Taylor, an Austin police officer, was involved in the April 2020 shooting of Ramos, a 42-year-old man, during a police response to a 911 call reporting a man with a gun.
Police found Ramos sitting in his car near the intersection of Springdale Road and Oltorf Street.
Video footage from the scene showed Ramos with his hands up before attempting to drive away, at which point he was shot by Taylor.
The shooting led to widespread protests and calls for justice from the community, particularly due to Ramos’s racial background as both Black and Latino.
Following a review of the evidence, the DA’s office determined there was not enough to support the murder charge.
The Ramos family and local advocacy groups expressed disappointment, calling for continued efforts toward justice and transparency in cases of police conduct.
Meanwhile, Taylor’s supporters, including the Austin Police Association, welcomed the decision, arguing that Taylor acted within the scope of his training.
