In a scathing letter addressed to the Austin City Council, Julia Kantor, the mother of Douglas Kantor, who was killed in a high-profile mass shooting in Austin, Texas, blamed the council's decision to defund the police in 2020 for contributing to the lawlessness that claimed her son's life.
The letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, was sent just before the trial of De'Ondre White, the alleged killer of Douglas Kantor, began.
The trial, which started with jury selection on August 28th, is expected to last approximately two weeks. In her letter, Julia Kantor urged the council members to follow the trial as their duty to the citizens of Austin. She wrote, "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."
Douglas Kantor, a 25-year-old Ford Motor Co. employee from Michigan, was visiting Austin in June 2021 to celebrate with friends after earning his master's degree. He was tragically killed when two rival gangs of teenagers from Killeen, Texas, opened fire on each other in the city's bustling 6th Street entertainment and nightlife hub. Thirteen innocent bystanders were also injured in the shootout, making it the largest mass casualty incident in Austin in about a decade.
The shooting occurred approximately a year after the Austin City Council voted to defund the police in response to the unrest following the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020. Critics of the decision have argued that the subsequent increase in crime, including a record number of homicides in 2021, can be attributed, at least in part, to the defunding and alienation of the police force.
Although the police budget has since been restored, the department continues to face challenges due to mass retirements and the reduction of cadet classes, resulting in a shortage of hundreds of officers, according to experts.
Julia Kantor's letter expressed her frustration with the council's choices and their impact on the safety of Austin's citizens. She accused them of making irresponsible decisions for political gain and putting a target on the backs of the city's residents and visitors. Kantor wrote, "Your irresponsible choices for political gain has put a target on the backs of Austin's citizens and all who visit."
She further criticized the council members, calling them cowards and accusing them of lacking the courage to acknowledge the destructive consequences of their actions. Kantor wrote, "Just like the killer, you are ALL COWARDS. NONE OF YOU HAD THE GUTS TO SPEAK UP AND POINT OUT HOW STUPID AND DESTRUCTIVE THAT WAS. I'M SURE IF YOUR KIDS WERE BEING KILLED YOU WOULD FIND YOUR VOICE."
Julia Kantor's letter received no responses from the council members, according to her son and Douglas's brother, Nicklaus Kantor. He expressed little hope that the council members would take responsibility for their actions but hoped they would at least acknowledge the loss.
Nicklaus Kantor said, "I don't think any of us have any delusions that one of these council members is going to be like, 'Oh, we're so sorry, we did it on purpose.' You know, they're not going to admit and take responsibility. But at least acknowledge the loss at the very least."
The murder trial, now in its third day, is set to continue on Thursday morning. Fox News Digital reached out to the city council members who voted to defund the police in 2020 but did not receive an immediate response.
Julia Kantor concluded her letter with a warning, stating, "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."
As the trial unfolds, the grieving mother's letter serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of defunding the police and the impact it can have on public safety. The trial will undoubtedly shed further light on the events that led to the tragic loss of Douglas Kantor's life and the broader implications of the city council's decision.
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