Austin police officer Daniel Sanchez faces retrial after hung jury in Rajan Moonesinghe shooting case
Case returns to court after November 2025 mistrial
An Austin Police Department officer charged in the fatal shooting of 33-year-old tech entrepreneur Rajan Moonesinghe is expected to face a new trial after a Travis County jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in late 2025.
Officer Daniel Sanchez is charged with deadly conduct, a third-degree felony, in connection with the on-duty shooting outside Moonesinghe’s home in the Bouldin Creek area. The first trial ended on Nov. 17, 2025, when the presiding judge declared a mistrial after jurors reported they were deadlocked following deliberations that began Nov. 14, 2025. The case is to be reset for a future date.
What prosecutors and defense argued at the first trial
The criminal case focuses on whether Sanchez’s decision to open fire was justified under the circumstances officers encountered shortly after midnight on Nov. 15, 2022. Police had been dispatched to the residence following a 911 report of an armed man outside. When officers arrived, they saw Moonesinghe with an AR-15-style rifle and also witnessed him firing into his own home.
At trial, prosecutors argued the shooting was not justified because Moonesinghe did not threaten officers and because the officer fired almost immediately after issuing commands. Prosecutors also argued Sanchez did not identify himself as police before firing.
The defense countered that Sanchez reasonably believed he was confronting an active, potentially lethal threat in a densely populated neighborhood and made a rapid decision based on limited information. Defense arguments emphasized the report of a gun, the sound of shots, and the presence of an armed person on a porch as the officer arrived.
Video and forensic evidence were central
Jurors viewed body-camera footage and heard testimony that addressed timing, visibility, and the rifle’s position when Sanchez fired. Disputed points included whether Moonesinghe dropped the rifle during the volley of shots and whether Sanchez could perceive any change quickly enough to reassess the threat. Testimony also addressed Moonesinghe’s condition that night, including evidence introduced about intoxicants.
Parallel civil litigation and employment status
Separate from the criminal case, Moonesinghe’s family filed a federal civil rights wrongful-death lawsuit seeking at least $130 million in damages and alleging excessive force. The civil case has been paused while the criminal prosecution proceeds.
Sanchez has remained employed by the Austin Police Department, though he has not been serving in a patrol capacity.
Incident date: Nov. 15, 2022
Indictment date: Dec. 19, 2023
First trial: testimony began Nov. 6, 2025; mistrial declared Nov. 17, 2025
Next step: retrial to be scheduled by the court
A retrial would place largely the same evidence before a new jury, while allowing both sides to refine how they present the timing, identification, and perceived-threat questions at the center of the case.