In a rare case of justice served, the Texas cop who shot and killed 15-year-old Jordan Edwards as he was leaving a house party was sentenced to 15 years in prison today.
Roy Oliver, who was a Balch Springs police officer when he killed the teen, was described by prosecutors as a “killer in blue” with a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality, according to CNN.
Oliver, who was facing up to 99 years, must also pay a $10,000 fine, according to Fox 32.
He is available for parole in seven-and-a-half months, but plans to appeal the decision.
Original Version
A Texas cop claimed he was trying to protect his partner from getting run over when he shot at a car filled with teens, killing 15-year-old Jordan Edwards.
But Roy Oliver's partner, Tyler Gross, testified that he was never in fear for his life, which was why he didn't draw his own gun.
On Tuesday, a jury found Oliver guilty of murder after two days of deliberations. He faces up to life in prison. He is expected to be sentenced later today.
Oliver was a Balch Springs police officer when he and other officers responded to a rowdy house party on April 29, 2017, which they were breaking up.
Bodycam footage shown to the jurors captured the cops joking with the teenagers as they were leaving the party. At one point, gunshots rang out from a nearby nursing home, which struck fear in the hearts of officers.
According to the Dallas Morning News:
> While talking to the party's host inside the house, gunshots rang out. The shots were later discovered to have been fired from a nearby nursing home.
> The officers ran from the house — Oliver to get his patrol rifle — and toward the nursing home. Within 54 seconds, Jordan was dead.
> Gross was trying to stop the Chevrolet Impala that Jordan, his brothers and friends were in when Oliver fired into the car. Oliver said he thought the car was going to hit his partner.
But witnesses testified the car was trying to avoid hitting the officer, which explains why Gross wasn't fearing for his life. Check back later for more details.
