Department Fires Texas Cop Who Shot Unarmed Student at Car Dealership

Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson cited several examples of poor judgement in the incident as reasons for Officer Brad Miller's termination, the Dallas Morning News reported.

"This is an extraordinarily difficult case. Decisions were made that have catastrophic outcome," Johnson said during a news conference Tuesday.

Miller and other officers responded to a burglary call at a car dealership early Friday morning. Miller ultimately shot and killed Christian Taylor, an unarmed 19-year-old African-American who was a student and football player at Angelo State University.

At the time of the shooting, Miller, 49, was a trainee and working under the supervision of another officer.

Johnson, the police chief, said he made the decision to fire Miller after receiving a briefing from homicide investigators Tuesday morning, the Dallas Morning News reported. The decision was his alone, he added.

Surveillance video recorded just before the shooting shows Taylor try to open locked cars and kick out the front windshield of a car. He then drives his SUV through the locked front gate into the showroom.

"As officers stood outside the building, they made verbal contact with Mr. Taylor through glass wall instructing him to lie on the ground," Johnson said. "Mr. Taylor was not compliant and he fled to the southwest portion of the building, where officers observed him trying to force his way through a locked glass door."

Miller and his supervising officer then became involved in a confrontation with Taylor. Miller fired four rounds from his gun and hit Taylor multiple times, while his training officer fired his Taser.

Johnson said the criminal case will continue and police will present it to the local District Attorney's office. From there the case will go to a grand jury, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Johnson asked the FBI to assist in the investigation. The Bureau declined the invitation, saying it has "full confidence in the ability" of Arlington police and prosecutors to investigate Taylor's death.