Prosecutor: Officer who shot teen ‘trigger happy’

Partner testifies he felt no need to fire weapon

DALLAS — A former Texas police officer accused of killing a black teenager was angry, out of control and “trigger happy” when he fired at a car full of teenagers while responding to a house party, a prosecutor told jurors Thursday during the ex-officer’s murder trial.

Ex-balch Springs officer Roy Oliver’s actions were unreasonable on the night he fatally shot 15-yearold Jordan Edwards last year, said Michael Snipes, a Dallas County assistant district attorney. Snipes said that Edwards was an “innocent child” and that his last words were “Duck, get down.”

Oliver, who is white, fired his gun into a moving car carrying five black teenagers while responding to a report of underage drinking at the party. Oliver has said he and his partner feared for their lives as the car sped toward them.

But Oliver’s partner, Tyler Gross, testified Thursday that he did not fear for his life as the vehicle went by and that he never felt the need to fire his weapon. During opening statements, Snipes told jurors that Oliver fired at the car after it passed Gross and that Gross was in no danger.

Snipes said the prosecution will show that Edwards and others in the car had nothing to do with shots that were heard outside the house. No guns were found inside the teenagers’ car.

Defense attorneys opted Thursday to make their opening statement at a later time. They have said that Edwards’ death was a tragedy but that evidence would show Oliver “reacted properly.”

Oliver, 38, joined the department in 2011 but was fired after the fatal shooting.

After the shooting, the Balch Springs police chief reported that police video had contradicted his agency’s original statement. Police first said the vehicle backed up toward officers “in an aggressive manner,” but police later said video showed the vehicle was moving forward as officers approached.

Gross estimates there were 100 to 150 youngsters coming out of the house, and officers talked to the host about not having such a big party. Gross testified he saw no drunk teens and only saw one beer bottle. He also said there were no indications of violence.

In body camera footage from Oliver that was shown during the trial, screams and honks could be heard after gunfire rang out near a nursing home. The video then shows Oliver getting a rifle from his patrol car. After firing on the car containing Edwards and the other teens, Oliver can be heard asking Gross if he is all right. Oliver then said the driver of the vehicle tried to hit Gross.

Some legal experts said ahead of the trial that securing a conviction against an officer is a challenge because criminal culpability in such cases is subjective and jurors are more inclined to believe police testimony.

Oliver has a history of hostile and aggressive behavior and “flipped off ” the vehicle that held Edwards’ body after the shooting, according to court filings from prosecutors. Oliver, while in the eighth grade, posted swastikas in public places, hated anyone who was not Caucasian and was also a member of the group Caucasians in Effect, the court filing said.