Austin Langley sentenced to more than 55 years in prison for crimes related to Topeka stabbing

A Shawnee County District Court judge on Wednesday sentenced Austin Langley to 55 years and one month in prison for two felonies related to an apparently racially motivated stabbing in 2020 at a Topeka fireworks tent.

Langley, 44, was found guilty of one count each of aggravated battery and attempted first-degree murder, said Katie Garceran, public information officer for District Attorney Mike Kagay.

Langley stabbed Shawn Douglas on July 2, 2020, in the pop-up fireworks tent that Douglas operated in the parking lot of Dillons, 5311 SW 22nd Place, according to Capital-Journal archives.

Douglas, who is black, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Langley is white.

The attack took place at a time of heightened racial tensions

Witnesses followed Langley away from the scene and kept Shawnee County dispatchers informed of his location until officers arrived and arrested him a few blocks from the scene, Garceran said.

Langley's attack on Douglas appeared to be racially motivated, Kagay announced on July 7, 2020.

The country was then faced with increased racial tensions following the death by asphyxiation, on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, by Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old white police officer. .

Langley was initially found mentally incompetent to stand trial, but was ultimately found competent after receiving treatment at the Larned Mental Health Correctional Center.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at [email protected] or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared in the Topeka Capital-Journal: Topekan sentenced to more than 55 years in prison for racially motivated stabbing.