Julia Kantor, the mother of a 25-year-old man who was murdered in a 2021 mass shooting in Austin, Texas, wrote a strongly worded letter to the city council, blaming them for her son’s death. She said that the council’s decision to defund the police had led directly to the shooting, as it had left the city less safe.
Also read | Who is Kevin Franke, Ruby Franke’s husband?
According to documents, Julia on the day of trial for her son’s killer wrote a letter, “It was you, the city council and others who defunded the police and welcomed these evil people with no regard for life to run and ruin your city. It’s time you see what you have done to not only the victims like my son but also to our family and friends and your city. Your irresponsible choices for political gain has put a target on the backs of Austin’s citizens and all who visit.”
Who is Julia Kantor?
Julia Kantor was the mother of Douglas Kantor. The 25-year-old was visiting Austin from his home in New York on June 12, 2021, to celebrate the completion of his master’s degree. He was struck and killed in a crossfire between rival teenage gangs on a packed street in the city’s entertainment district. Thirteen other people were injured in the shooting.
Also read | Disney removes 26 channels from Spectrum cable amid carriage dispute | List of channels removed
The incident took place less than a year after the Austin City Council slashed the police department’s budget by more than $100 million in the wake of the George Floyd protests, a move that many attributed to the subsequent rise in crime. A year later, the funding was reinstated, but through 2023, staffing shortages caused severe damage to the department.
Kantor slammed the city council in a letter and wrote, “Remember what goes around comes around in different ways. Look at the last photo. This is the animal you released on my son and the people of Texas without a thought.”
