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Police Fatally Shoots 15-Year-Old Boy Trying To Leave A House Party
Texas Police shot and killed a 15-year-old boy as he was leaving a party on Saturday night, officials have confirmed.
Jordan Edwards, who was a freshman at Mesquite High School, died after an officer fired multiple rounds at the car he was riding in.
The car had five teenagers in it, including Edwards, who were trying to leave a party after police arrived.
Police admitted that the car had been driving away when an officer shot at them with a rifle, reversing their original statement of the shooting. Initially, police claimed that the vehicle had been backing up toward officers in “an aggressive manner.”
Police Chief Jonathan Haber said at a press conference on Monday that that account was inaccurate and that after reviewing dashcam footage, it was clear the vehicle was “moving forward as the officers approached.”
“After viewing the video, I don’t believe that it met our core values,” Haber said.
The Dallas County medical examiner’s office said that Edwards was shot with a rifle, the Dallas Morning News reported. The medical examiner also officially ruled Edwards’ death a homicide.
Officials say that the officers had been responding to a call about several drunk, underage “kids” walking around the neighborhood at around 11 p.m. Saturday, when they heard gun shots outside the party.
Edwards was leaving the party when an officer shot him through a front passenger window. He died “from his injuries” after transported to a nearby hospital.
Police have not identified the officer involved but said that the officer is now on administrative leave.
“On behalf of the entire Balch Springs Police Department and the city of Balch Springs, we express our deep, sincere condolences to the family,” Haber said Sunday. “We will continue to reach out to the parents and keep them informed as we move forward from this point.”
In an interview with BuzzFeed News, attorney Lee Merritt, who represents the Edwards family, disputed the police account of the incident. Witnesses at the party said they did not hear any gunshots until after the police arrived, he said, adding that the group of teens in the car were leaving the house as the gathering was getting too rowdy.
“They heard police were coming and decided to leave the party. No one heard any gunfire until police arrived at the scene,” Merritt said.
He also said that he spoke with the other teens in the vehicle and that none had faced any charges for underage drinking and no weapons were recovered at the scene.
Edwards was reportedly a good student who liked to play pool and was “just getting into” football, Merritt said. “He was just a really good kid. He was leaving a house party because he thought it was getting dangerous,” he said.
The criminal investigation will be taken care of by the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. The Balch Springs Police Department will also be conducting an internal review.
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