The Arlington, TX police recruit who fatally shot unarmed Christian Taylor has been fired for “exercising poor judgment,” the police chief said Tuesday. (August 11)
Officer Brad Miller, 49, shot the 19-year-old college football player after receiving a call a break-in was taking place at the Classic Buick GMC dealership.
READ: Surveillance Video Reveals Christian Taylor’s Final Moments Before His Death
During a press conference, Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson told reporters Miller was undergoing supervised field training and entered the building alone without telling the other officers, which set in motion the night’s fatality.
Miller told investigators he was scared and believed he would be overpowered. He continued to say he thought he was alone despite supervising officers being no more than four feet away.
“This fear and feeling of isolation was the result of his poor decision to enter the building without assistance and without an arrest plan,” Johnson said.
READ: These Tweets By Christian Taylor Are Heartbreaking In Light of His Death
Shortly after 1 am Friday, August 7, Arlington police received a call after Taylor allegedly kicked in the windshield of a car, and then crashed his jeep inside the dealership showroom. Police said they found Taylor roaming inside the dealership and spoke to him through a glass door in which they ordered him to get on the ground. Taylor allegedly refused, held up keys and said he was there to steel a car.
Shortly after, Miller’s supervising officer Cpl. Dale Wiggins heard a “pop” and believed Miller fired his taser, but realized Miller shot the defensive back several times.
READ: #BlackTrialsMatter: Stop Killing Black ‘Criminals’ Before Their Day In Court
Taylor’s death is latest in a string of killing of unarmed black men and women at the hands of law enforcement.