Officer Roy Oliver has been identified as the cop who fatally shot 15-year-old Jordan Edwards in the head Saturday night as he left a house party. Authorities are investigating what led Oliver, who was fired, to shoot Edwards as he was sitting in the passenger seat of a moving car.
What Happened?
Oliver, who joined the police force in 2011, fatally shot Edwards as he was sitting in the passenger seat of a moving vehicle on Saturday night. Police had received a call about underage drinking and rowdy teenager at a house party. However, Edwards and his friends were not the source of the original call.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office will determine whether charges should be brought against Oliver. He was fired on Tuesday. The incident, which is receiving national media attention, is being investigated by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.
Balch Springs Police Chief Jonathan Haber said at a Tuesday news conference that Oliver had violated the department policy, though he did not explain which policies he was referring to or how Oliver violated them.
Oliver has six days to appeal the decision.
Attorney Cindy Stormer, who is representing Oliver, declined to comment to the Dallas Morning News as the investigation is ongoing.
“The incident is recent and still being investigated,” she said. “Everyone should wait until the facts come out and we know more.”
Haber would not disclose whether or not Oliver had previous disciplinary actions.
Video from Oliver’s body camera has not been released.
Edwards’ family has called for Oliver to be charged with murder for the shooting, which was witnessed by two of the teen’s brothers.
At first, Balch Springs police said the car carrying Edwards was aggressively moving in reverse toward police. But on Monday, Haber reversed course and said, after reviewing video, the car was driving away from police.
Roy Oliver
Roy Oliver is the Balch Springs police officer who fatally shot 15-year-old Jordan Edwards in the head as he was leaving a house party on Saturday night. Edwards was in the passenger seat of a moving car when Oliver fired at him. It is not yet clear why the shooting took place.
Oliver joined the police force in 2011. Before that, he was in the U.S. Army and served in Iraw, according to friends.
The incident is being investigated by the Dallas County Sherrif’s Office and charges against Oliver may or may not be forthcoming. He was fired on Tuesday.
