Jordan Edwards, 15, was shot and killed by an unnamed police officer in Balch Springs, Texas. He was in a vehicle that the officer, who has been placed on administrative leave, shot at.
A Texas police officer shot and killed an unarmed 15-year-old boy Saturday night.
Jordan Edwards was in a vehicle that an unnamed officer, who has been placed on administrative leave, shot at, WFAA reports.
One of the shots hit Edwards, who was in a front seat of the car in a residential area of Balch Springs, a suburb of Dallas.
Edwards was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Officers were responding to a report of intoxicated teenagers.
A police press release reads: ‘There was an unknown altercation with the vehicle backing down the road towards the officers in an aggressive manner.
‘An officer shot at the vehicle, striking a front seat passenger.
‘The individual was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.’
Edwards had been a freshman at Mesquite High School and was an athlete.
He had been leaving a party and his family’s attorney said the vehicle he was in was not the vehicle police had been called about.
His family’s attorney, Lee Merritt, wrote on Twitter: ‘As the family prepares to bury their child they must combat false claims of under-aged drinking & fabrications about “aggressive” behavior.’
His friend and teammate, Chris Cano, Jr., told CBS Local that Edwards was the ‘best running back’ and added: ‘I still can’ t believe it. I want to see his smile again.’
A family friend, Robbin McDonald, told Fox 4: ‘He was a straight A student, I can tell you he was always smiling.’
She added: ‘I can tell you he was a very, very brilliant and humble and very sweet kid.’
No officers were injured.
Balch Springs Police Chief Jonathan Haber said: ‘On behalf of the entire Balch Springs Police Department, and the city of Balch Springs we express our deep, sincere condolences to the family.’
