White cop faces life in prison after being found guilty of murdering unarmed black 15-year-old
A Texas police officer has been found guilty in the murder of an unarmed black 15-year-old.
Roy Oliver, a white officer, killed Jordan Edwards in April 2017 while the teenager was leaving a house party in a car with four friends. Oliver shot into the moving vehicle and struck Edwards, later testifying that he thought his partner's life was at risk. But his partner disagreed, leading to Oliver's guilty conviction Tuesday, The Associated Press reports.
Oliver was sent to investigate an underage drinking report at the party Edwards attended last April. After a gunshot was apparently heard somewhere nearby, Edwards left the party with two of his brothers. In his testimony, Oliver said he shot because he thought the car's driver was trying to hit his partner Tyler Gross. But Gross testified that he never felt in danger or that he should fire, per CBS News. Investigators didn't find firearms in the car.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Days after Edwards' death, Oliver was fired from his job, arrested, and then released on $300,000 bail. The case soon joined the national conversation surrounding police brutality against black suspects, particularly those who are unarmed or underage.
After two days of deliberation, jurors found Oliver guilty of Edwards' murder and not guilty on two counts of aggravated assault, per The Dallas Morning News. Oliver has yet to be sentenced but is facing life in prison on the conviction.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Why more and more adults are reaching for soft toys
Under The Radar Does the popularity of the Squishmallow show Gen Z are 'scared to grow up'?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published