Police Chief Fires Dallas-Area Officer Who Fatally Shot Black Teen In Car

BALCH SPRINGS, TX — The police officer in a Dallas suburb who fatally shot a 15-year-old on black teenager inside a car has been fired, according to media reports.

The officer, Roy Oliver, "violated several departmental policies," police told reporters, CNN and others reported. Police Chief Jonathan Haber said he fired Oliver on Tuesday after the outcome of an internal investigation, although Oliver has the right to appeal his firing in the following ten days.

Oliver had previously been placed on administrative leave, but has not been formally charged with any offense or arrested in the fatal shooting of the Jordan Edwards, an honors student, who was in a car with friends when the officer pulled up to them.

Related story: Texas Officer Fatally Shoots 15-Year-Old Sitting In Car: Police

Edwards fired into the vehicle with his rifle after he said the car backed up toward him in an aggressive fashion. But the findings of the investigation revealed the car actually was driving forward, not in reverse as footage from the officers bodycam showed. The gunshot killed Jordan, who was a passenger in the car.

The officer's firing comes one day after the Balch Springs police chief acknowledged he "misspoke" when he repeated the claim that the car Jordan was riding in Saturday night was moving "aggressively" toward police. "I take responsibility for that," he added, saying the officer "...did not meet our core values."

After the firing, the chief took a more conciliatory tone toward the family of the dead youth: "The past 67 hours have been challenging for all us," he said. "My heartfelt condolences to the parents of Jordan Edwards, and we support them in their time of need."

An attorney representing the Edwards family commended the chief for having owned up to his mistake: "Before the chief made the retraction of the statement, he stopped by and he spoke with the family," attorney Lee Merritt told HLN on Tuesday. "I give him much respect for being brave enough to do that on a national platform. It may be embarrassing, but we need to change the culture where officers don't cover up for the indefensible."

For their part, the boy's family issued a statement remembering their fallen loved one, whom they described as a "loving child" with a humble and sharing spirit.

"The bond that he shared with his family, particularly his siblings, was indescribable," the family's statement read. "Not only have Jordan's brothers lost their best friend; they witnessed firsthand his violent, senseless murder. Their young lives will forever be altered."

The family also asked the public to refrain from protests and marches as they make arrangements to bury the child this coming Saturday: "What we desire only second to having our beloved Jordan back, is JUSTICE FOR JORDAN," the statement said.

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