An Unarmed Black 15-Year-Old Has Been Shot Dead By Texas Police
Jordan Edwards was leaving a house party with friends, his family’s attorney said.
On Saturday, Jordan Edwards, 15, was killed by police in Balch Springs, Texas. Officers opened fire on a vehicle leaving a house party, DallasNews.com has reported. Edwards was unarmed.
The family's attorney told The Root that Edwards and his friends left the party after hearing gunshots. At that time, the Balch Springs Police Department was already on the scene following a report of drunken teenagers (Edwards's family says that he had not been drinking).
Balch Springs police Chief Jonathan Haber claimed in a statement that officers opened fire when the car began "moving aggressively" towards them. Sitting in the passenger side of the vehicle, Jordan Edwards was struck by bullets. He was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The Edwards family's attorney has disputed the police's version of events. "[It] will not hold water when the facts come out," he said. The parents of Jordan Edwards are asking for the officer responsible, who has not been identified at the time of this writing, to be charged.
Those who knew Jordan stress his good character, likely in anticipation of a media pile-on similar to Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin, other black teenagers shot dead who were later criticized in the media for supposed "thuggish" behavior. "It could have easily been my son," said Chris Cano Sr., father to one of Jordan's friends.
The Dallas County District Attorney's Office and the Dallas County Sheriff's Department will take charge of the criminal investigation. Jordan Edward's death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner. "On behalf of the entire Balch Springs Police Department, and the city of Balch Springs, we express our deep, sincere condolences to the family," Chief Haber said.