AUSTIN, Texas — A jury was seated on the first day in the trial of Austin police officer Christopher Taylor, who faces a murder charge for the death of Michael Ramos in 2020.
In May, a Travis County judge declared a mistrial amid allegations of potential jury tampering and the inability to seat a jury.
On Monday, the prosecution and the defense took turns questioning potential jurors about their familiarity and exposure to the deadly encounter between Michael Ramos and Christopher Taylor.
Several potential jurors admitted they would be unable to be impartial for a lot of reasons, including that they come from law enforcement backgrounds or are close to those working in law enforcement, they have formed opinions based on what they have read or watched or they have strong opinions on police brutality.
The police shooting rocked Austin and fueled the anger that helped spark the social justice protests of 2020. Captured in both police footage and on witnesses' cellphone cameras, the case sparked controversy from the start. Taylor's trial is expected to draw emotions from all sides.
What happened?
In April 2020, multiple APD officers responded to a report about possible drug dealing in the parking lot of a southeast Austin complex. The 911 caller said that a man, later identified as Ramos, had a gun – but police later confirmed they did not find a weapon.
When officers arrived at the complex, they said Ramos did not obey their commands, prompting them to use beanbag rounds on him. Then, when Ramos got into his car and started driving, Taylor opened fire.
The shooting led to a local outcry and calls for justice, amid ongoing outrage over the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Taylor's attorneys say he opened fire on Ramos to protect himself and other officers and that he committed no crime. But in one of his first major actions as Travis County district attorney, José Garza took the case to a grand jury in 2021. The grand jury indicted Taylor on a murder charge.
Now, a Travis County jury will hear arguments from both sides to decide whether the shooting was justified or whether Taylor should face up to life in prison.
Last month, a judge denied Taylor's motion to move the trial out of Travis County. Attorney Adam Muery said there would be problems with jury selection because this case is so well-publicized. He said it was "surprising" the judge did not grant the request to move the trial.
"I think the odds of being able to select an impartial, unbiased jury would be greater if it was moved over to a different county. It also causes logistical challenges, typically whenever you have an attorney selecting a jury, there's only 50 or so to show up and it's a little bit easier to manage and control. When you have a roomful of 300, it's hard to track which jurors saying which and which strikes are appropriate," Muery said.
KVUE reached out to Michael Ramos' mother, Brenda Ramos, whose attorney sent this statement:
“This trial is long overdue. It has been over three years since Officer Taylor shot and killed my son. Mike was the sweetest person. He made everyone laugh. And he was such a loving son. I miss him every day. His killing left a hole in my heart that I will always carry with me. I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for the condolences and sympathy I’ve received from family, friends, and the community.”
Opening statements in Taylor's trial are expected to begin on Monday, Oct. 23.