May 15th Supreme Court Ruling Could Impact Tyler Arrest Investigation

WASHINGTON D.C. (TXAN 24) — In a unanimous decision on May 15, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling in Barnes v. Felix, rejecting the Fifth Circuit’s narrow “moment-of-threat” rule used to justify police shootings. The decision is already sending ripples through Texas — including right here in Tyler.

The case stemmed from a 2016 incident in Harris County, where Officer Roberto Felix fatally shot Ashtian Barnes during a traffic stop. Felix fired within seconds of jumping onto Barnes’ moving car. Lower courts sided with the officer, focusing only on that brief moment of perceived danger.

But Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the Court, said that approach was too narrow. “The totality of the circumstances” must be considered — not just a split-second snapshot. The Court’s decision vacates the earlier ruling and calls for broader analysis in use-of-force cases.

That standard could reshape the legal lens on a current investigation in Tyler: the arrest of Briana Erwin. Her recent traffic stop and takedown by officers has sparked public concern. With the Supreme Court now emphasizing a full-context approach, legal experts say cases like Erwin’s may face renewed scrutiny.

This ruling may change how excessive force is reviewed across the country — and it could start right here in East Texas.