An Austin police officer has been indicted over the fatal shooting of Rajan Moonesinghe, a tech entrepreneur, as reported by The Austin American-Statesman. Officer Daniel Sanchez is facing a charge of felony deadly conduct after the November 2022 incident. Deployed in the department for almost three years, Sanchez has been put on administrative leave following the shooting.
According to multiple law enforcement sources, the indictment was confirmed to KXAN Wednesday in the 2200 block of South Third Street shooting. Answering a 911 call about a scared man firing into his own house was Sanchez, who quickly confronted Moonesinghe. Police released video footage showing Moonesinghe holding a rifle and discharging it before the officer intervened and shot him.
In the released security footage by the victim's family, it appeared that Moonesinghe believed an intruder was in his home, resulting in the entrepreneur's reactive defense measures. As detailed by KXAN, after the officer's command to drop the weapon, Sanchez fired, hitting Moonesinghe multiple times.
Still, within the security footage, cops are observed handcuffing Moonesinghe even though he was already injured and unresponsive on the ground. Sanchez's legal representative, Brad Heilman, expressed disapproval concerning the indictment. He noted, "The fact that Officer Sanchez was indicted for Deadly Conduct further exemplifies José Garza’s continued attack on Austin Police Officers for doing exactly what they are trained to keep the citizens of Austin safe from harm."
Moonesinghe's family has been outspoken in requesting enhanced accountability from the police force since the incident. Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson has announced continuous support for Officer Sanchez throughout the judicial proceedings. In a statement given by the Austin Police Department, the actions of Sanchez were justified as they were in line with his training in response to what was perceived as a direct threat.
The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas confirmed they would be providing Sanchez with legal representation. Meanwhile, Moonesinghe’s family continues to grapple with the loss of a loved one and the contentious circumstances surrounding his death.
