Texas police officer fired after killing teen

DALLAS — Police in the Dallas suburb of Balch Springs on Tuesday fired an officer who fatally shot a 15-yearold as he was leaving a party.

Roy Oliver fired his rifle into a car of unarmed teens Saturday night as they drove away, fatally striking Jordan Edwards in the head. Jordan’s brothers were also in the car. Originally, police had said the car was aggressively backing up toward officers.

The fatal shooting of a black teenager riding as a passenger in a car has drawn national outrage. Fatal shootings of unarmed black men have sparked nationwide protests calling for changes to police tactics.

The department said Oliver, who has been on the force nearly six years, violated several policies but would not elaborate. The department declined to identify the police officer’s race.

Jordan’s family expressed gratitude that Oliver was fired but said in a statement “there remains a long road ahead” toward justice. The family wants Oliver to be arrested on a murder charge and wants other officers who were involved to be held accountable as well.

“After Jordan’s two brothers, Vidal and Kevon, along with their two friends, were forced to experience this tragedy up close as occupants of the car, they were immediately treated as common criminals by other officers; manhandled, intimidated and arrested, while their brother lay dying in the front seat,” the family said in a statement.

“The officers who extended this nightmare for those children ought to be properly reprimanded as well,” the statement said. “Our family is working hard to deal with both the loss of our beloved Jordan and the lingering trauma it has caused our boys.”

Attorney Cindy Stormer, a former prosecutor who now represents the officer, asked the public to be patient while the case is being investigated.

“We cannot make any comments at this time,” Stormer said in a written statement to The Dallas Morning News. “The incident is recent and still being investigated. Everyone should wait until the facts come out and we know more.”

Jordan’s family called him a “loving child with a humble and sharing spirit” and said he had an indescribably strong bond with his siblings.

“Not only have Jordan’s brothers lost their best friend; they witnessed firsthand his violent, senseless, murder,” the statement reads. “Their young lives will forever be altered. No one, let alone young children, should witness such horrific, unexplainable, violence.”

The family asked the public to refrain from protests and marches in Jordan’s name as they prepare for his funeral, which is planned for Saturday. A YouCaring account has been set up for those who want to financially help the family.