News for North Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Fired Balch Springs Cop Who Killed Jordan Edwards Justifies Actions In Court Filing

MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK/PARKER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE VIA AP
Jordan Edwards (left) and former Balch Springs officer Roy Oliver (right).

A fired Balch Springs police officer says in a court filing that his actions were justifiable when he fired into a moving car carrying five black teenagers, killing a 15-year-old boy.

Roy Oliver, 37, says in Tuesday's federal court filing that he and his partner were in fear for their lives in April when the car carrying Jordan Edwards sped past them.

Oliver says he was startled when he heard breaking glass and believed his partner was under threat. Oliver fired three to five times into the car and Edwards was fatally wounded.

Oliver was fired in May for violating department policies and indicted this week on a murder charge and four charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public official related to the other four teens who were in the car.

The officers had been responding to a report of drunken teens at a party. The Dallas Morning News reported last month that no teenagers were drinking or using drugs at the party.

Tuesday's court filing came in response to a civil suit by Jordan's parents, according to the Morning News.

Oliver Answer to Complaint by Anonymous ovJgHA on Scribd

The Associated Press contributed to this report.