The police department in Balch Springs, Texas, on Tuesday fired the officer who fatally shot an unarmed 15-year-old Saturday as he left a party, according to reports.
Officer Roy Oliver violated several unspecified department policies in the killing of Jordan Edwards, officials said.
Edwards was shot in the head as he, two friends and one of his brothers rode in a car driven by another of his brothers in the Dallas suburbs.
His family said in a statement they were “grateful the decision has been made to terminate the officer responsible for Jordan’s murder,” according to a Lee Merritt, a lawyer representing them. Merritt called on investigators to pursue criminal charges.
Merritt added that the misconduct extends beyond Oliver, as other officers mistreated Edwards’ brothers and the two friends.
“They were immediately treated as common criminals by other officers; manhandled, intimidated and arrested while their brother lay dying in the front seat,” said Merritt.
Police Chief Jonathan Haber revealed Monday that the department had initially provided incorrect information about the shooting. Video revealed that Oliver fired as the teens’ car drove away from police, contradicting an earlier account that claimed the cop shot as the vehicle moved toward him in reverse.
Oliver, a six-year veteran of the department, fired multiple rounds from a rifle at the teens’ car.
The police department declined to release footage of the shooting, which is now in the hands of the Dallas County sheriff’s office, a Balch Springs spokesman told Buzzfeed.
The Balch Springs Police Department did not immediately respond to HuffPost requests for comment.
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