Austin police officer Christopher Taylor charged with first-degree murder in Mike Ramos shooting

Last April Michael Ramos was fatally shot in his vehicle while slowly pulling away from police and heading into a dead end. Hendler Flores Law represents Brenda Ramos, Mike’s mother, in a lawsuit against the City of Austin, the Austin Police Department and police officer Christopher Taylor, who fired the fatal shots. Mike was unarmed and confused when he attempted to drive away headed into a dead end.

On March 10, 2021, a Travis County Grand Jury charged police officer Christopher Taylor with first-degree murder in the Mike Ramos shooting death, a landmark moment in Austin police accountability. The murder charge in the Ramos case ultimately ended in a mistrial after a jury could not reach a unanimous decision, underscoring how rarely officers face criminal consequences: according to the 2025 Police Violence Report, fewer than 3% of killings by police result in officers being charged with a crime. Brenda Ramos, the victim’s mother, continues to pursue the civil lawsuit against the City of Austin and the Austin Police Department to vindicate her son’s civil rights and hold the department accountable for policies that result in unjustified and excessive use of force against members of Austin’s Black and Hispanic communities. Ms. Ramos’ lawsuit includes claims of fostering systemic inequalities against communities of color, claims that carry added weight given national data showing officers are charged in fewer than 3% of all police killings.

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