Officer in Texas who fatally shot unarmed burglary suspect fired

An Arlington, Texas, police officer who fatally shot an unarmed burglary suspect last week has been fired from the force.

Christian Taylor, a 19-year-old football player at Angelo State University, was found at Classic Buick GMC in Arlington early Friday morning, USA Today reports, and Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson said on Tuesday that Officer Brad Miller showed poor judgment and made a tactical error by entering the car dealership before other officers could set up a perimeter around the building and determine if there was anyone else inside. Miller did not coordinate with his fellow officers as he entered the dealership, Johnson said, and eventually fired at least four shots.

The officers and Taylor never had any physical contact, and a bulge that one officer observed in Taylor's pocket turned out to be his cellphone and wallet. Criminal investigators will soon submit their reports on the shooting to the Tarrant County district attorney's office. A grand jury will ultimately decide if criminal charges should be filed against the responding officers.

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