Texas Pig Shoots & Kills Unarmed Black 19yr Christian Taylor @ Car Dealership.. SMH...

stringer bell
stringer bell Members Posts: 26,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited August 2015 in For The Grown & Sexy
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/police-fatally-shoot-unarmed-burglary-suspect-texas-32957354

Arlington police: Shot suspect wasn't armed
Texas Police Fatally Shoot Unarmed College Football Player

ARLINGTON, Texas —
Aug 7, 2015, 9:57 PM

A police officer in suburban Dallas shot and killed a college football player during a struggle after the unarmed 19-year-old crashed a car through the front window of a car dealership, authorities said Friday.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office identified the dead man as Christian Taylor, of Arlington. Taylor was a sophomore at Angelo State University in San Angelo.

Officers were responding to a burglary call about 1 a.m. Friday in Arlington when they discovered someone had driven a vehicle through a front window of the Classic Buick GMC, according to a statement from the Arlington Police Department. The statement said police approached the suspect and a struggle ensued. At some point during the struggle, an officer shot Taylor.

Police identified the officer as Brad Miller, a 49-year-old who has been with the department since last September and who has been working under the supervision of a training officer since his graduation from the police academy in March. The police statement said Miller had no police experience before joining the Arlington police force.

He will be placed on administrative leave, which is routine in such cases. Independent criminal and administrative investigations, according to the police statement.

The shooting comes amid increased scrutiny nationwide of police use of force, particularly in cases involving black suspects. Taylor was black.

Taylor's great uncle, Clyde Fuller of Grand Prairie, Texas, described Taylor as "a good kid" and said he didn't believe that Taylor was trying to commit a crime.

"They say he's burglarizing the place by running up in there? Nuh-uh. Something doesn't sound right," Fuller told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.


It was unclear whether there was any video of the shooting. Police Sgt. Paul Rodriguez said Arlington officers have not been equipped with body cameras, and police said they haven't found any dealership security video that captured it.

The Star-Telegram reported that court records it reviewed showed Taylor was sentenced to six months of deferred adjudication last December on a drug charge stemming from a September 2013 traffic stop in which police reported Taylor was found with 11 hydrocodone tablets not prescribed to him. The case was dismissed July 14 after Taylor satisfied the requirement of his probation. He graduated from Summit High School in Mansfield, Texas, in 2014.

Angelo State officials said they were saddened to hear of the death of Taylor, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound defensive back.

"We're not familiar with any of the details because it happened away from here, but we'd just like people to know that we are sad and sorry for his family and friend," university spokeswoman Becky Brackin told the San Angelo Standard-Times.

In a Twitter posting, football coach Will Wagner said, "Heart is hurting."

Arlington police: Shot suspect wasn't armed

ARLINGTON – Police in Arlington say a burglary suspect was unarmed when fatally shot by an officer early Friday morning at a car dealership.

Authorities identified the suspect as 19-year-old Christian Taylor. Police also identified the officer who fired the weapon as 49-year-old Brad Miller, who was under supervised field training at the time of the shooting. Authorities say Miller joined the department in September of 2014 and graduated from the academy in March.

According to police, authorities were called at about 1 a.m. to the Classic Buick GMC dealership on the Interstate 20 service road near Collins.

"Upon arrival at the car dealership, officers found that a vehicle had been driven through the front of the building," said Sgt. Paul Rodriguez, a spokesman for Arlington police, in a statement released later in the afternoon. "Officers established a perimeter and approached the suspect inside. As officers confronted the suspect, there was an altercation during which at least one officer discharged his weapon."

Police say Taylor, a graduate of Mansfield Summit High School in Arlington, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Taylor was signed to play football with Angelo State University in May of 2014

According to a report by the Star-Telegram, Taylor has no convictions, "but was sentenced to six months deferred adjudication probation in December 2014 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance."

Christian Taylor, 19, was killed by an Arlington police officer after crashing through the window of a car dealership. Jim Douglas reports.

"According to the Arlington police report, the charge stemmed from a September 2013 traffic stop in which Taylor was found in possession of 11 hydrocodone tablets that were not prescribed to him," read the report. "The case was dismissed July 14 after Taylor successfully completed his probation, court records show."

Arlington police released a statement about Taylor's death Friday afternoon.

Police in Arlington say a 19-year-old burglary suspect was unarmed when fatally shot by an officer early Friday morning at a car dealership. News 8's Lauren Zakalik has more.

"The preservation of life and safety is our highest priority," Rodriguez said. "The Arlington Police Department is saddened by this loss of life and will provide the community a clear and transparent investigation."

Arlington police say both an independent criminal and administration investigation is underway. Rodriguez says the Arlington Police Department doesn't currently use body cameras, "but is in the process of implementing a pilot program."

Rodriguez says Miller had no prior police experience before he joined the Arlington Police Department. Miller's been placed on routine administrative leave as the investigation is underway.
«134

Comments