Officer fired for shooting football player may face charges
Source: Associated Press
Officer fired for shooting football player may face charges
Updated 5:07 pm, Wednesday, August 12, 2015
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A police officer fired after fatally shooting an unarmed black college football player during a suspected burglary at a Texas car dealership could face criminal charges or civil lawsuits by the man's family members. Former officer Brad Miller's attorney has criticized the firing as political, after the police chief said in dismissing him that the deadly confrontation was unreasonable. Authorities say the Tarrant County District Attorney could present the case to a grand jury within weeks.
The death of 19-year-old Christian Taylor came days before the anniversary of the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed, black 18-year-old who was fatally shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and is the latest incidence of black men being killed by police.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The Arlington police department is awaiting a toxicology report on Taylor, who can be seen in security footage from the lot breaking out the windshield of a car on the lot and then driving his vehicle into the glass showroom. There is no footage of the shooting itself. Police also must complete their criminal investigation and are waiting for ballistics analyses.
The case will then be turned over to the district attorney to present to the grand jury. If a grand jury decides no charges against Miller are warranted, the Taylor family could file a civil rights claim alleging wrongful death in state or federal court.
Read more:
http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Officer-fired-for-shooting-football-player-may-6440776.php