Texas police officer fired over fatal shooting of black teen

“It is reasonable that officers were concerned that a weapon may be present”, Johnson said.

Taylor ran to a different part of the building and tried to break through a glass door to get away, Johnson said. This was allegedly witnessed by Miller’s training officer who described himself as now standing about four feet from Miller. He had had no policing experience before joining the force.

Joshua Taylor said he saw his brother sleeping Thursday night, just hours before the incident. “But rather it has occurred while our nation has been wrestling with the topics of social injustice, inequities, racism and police misconduct”. “It’s nearly impossible to indict a law enforcement officer, and it is impossible to convict one of a shooting”, he said.

He died of gunshots in his neck, chest and abdomen, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office. However, the police incident and the ensuing riots exposed underlying problems, including lack of employment opportunities for Black people, substandard schools, housing segregation, systemic discrimination and Black hopelessness.

In his only known criminal charge, Taylor received six months’ deferred adjudication on a drug charge after police found him with 11 hydrocodone tablets that were not prescribed to him, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. A short time later he drove his own SUV through the dealership’s glass windows to enter the showroom. Dale Wiggins. The third officer would place the suspect in handcuffs. Johnson said he hoped Miller’s firing will “assist in the healing process”. They were tasked with blocking the entrance to the building, so other officers could move in and subdue Taylor.

Johnson said Miller “exercised poor judgment” that led to “cascading consequences”.

Miller, who had been establishing a perimeter with Wiggins until they were separated, then entered the showroom alone.

Wiggins told investigators that he heard a “pop” that he believed was a Taser being discharged.

“Chief Johnson used 20/20 hindsight to protect his job and appease anti-police activists”, said Snider. When Taylor continued to approach, Miller fired his gun three more times.

Johnson said Miller and Taylor never came into physical contact. Taylor refused the officer’s order to get down on the ground.

In a “Community Letter About Shooting of Christian Taylor” posted Monday on the city website, Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams promised transparency in the investigation of Taylor’s shooting early Friday at an Arlington auto dealership.

“Kid made a mistake and it cost him dearly, no one should have to go out that way”, Taylor said. He has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Miller joined the police division in September and graduated from the town police academy earlier this yr. Police stated Miller can’t attraction his firing as a result of he was a probationary worker.

The Morning News adds that because Miller hadn’t yet completed his field training for the department, the firing is not subject to appeal.

The dealership’s cameras show Taylor walking around the parking lots, but not the confrontation inside the showroom.

The shooting is the latest in a string of deadly interactions between white police officers and unarmed black suspects in America.