### Austin Officer Christopher Taylor Found Guilty of Deadly Conduct in 2019 Shooting

In a landmark decision for Travis County, a jury has found Austin Police Department officer Christopher Taylor guilty of deadly conduct in the 2019 fatal shooting of Mauris DeSilva. This marks the first time in the county's history that a police officer has been held criminally responsible for a fatality occurring during duty.

Officer Taylor was initially charged with murder for DeSilva’s death, but the charge was reduced to deadly conduct shortly before his trial commenced. Jury selection for the trial began on September 23, followed by closing statements on October 2. After deliberations started on Wednesday, the jury announced its verdict on Saturday morning. Taylor now faces a potential prison sentence of up to ten years, with sentencing scheduled for October 15.

Mauris DeSilva, the shooting victim, was experiencing a mental health crisis and was armed with a knife at the time of the incident. The officers responding to the emergency call confronted DeSilva in a confined space, a decision critiqued by state prosecutors. They argued that the officers, including Taylor, made imprudent choices that ultimately led to the fatal shooting.

Travis County District Attorney José Garza expressed hope that the verdict would aid in the healing process for DeSilva’s family and the community at large. "Our office is grateful for the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victim and their family," Garza said.

The Austin Police Department acknowledged the difficulty of the case, stressing their respect for the judicial process in a statement released Saturday afternoon. However, some in the law enforcement community, including Michael Bullock, President of the Austin Police Association, have voiced concerns. Bullock described the verdict as "a sad day for Travis County and for the law enforcement profession," arguing that Taylor had acted in self-defense in a high-stress situation.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors contended that DeSilva did not pose an immediate threat to the officers. They highlighted the fact that a witness had successfully de-escalated the situation with DeSilva earlier, merely through verbal communication. Conversely, Taylor’s defense maintained that the officer's response was a reasonable act of self-defense, asserting that DeSilva's actions, knife in hand, justified Taylor’s use of deadly force.