AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Travis County District Attorney’s Office will not pursue a murder charge against Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor for his alleged involvement in the 2019 death of Mauris DeSilva , according to Taylor’s attorney.
“The government has notified us, and the Court that they will not proceed on the Murder Charge and instead will only proceed on Deadly Conduct, a 3 rd degree felony,” Taylor’s attorney, Doug O’Connell, told KXAN. “Regardless of the charge, Officer Taylor is not guilty of any crime. We are looking forward to seeing him acquitted so that he and his family can finally put this tragedy behind them.”
KXAN also reached out to the District Attorney’s Office which said “we do not comment on active cases.”
The case alleged APD Officers Christopher Taylor and Karl Krycia used excessive force that led to the death of DeSilva in 2019. Taylor and Krycia were indicted in 2021 on one count of murder and one count of deadly conduct – discharge firearm each, according to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.