By Bill Carey
Police1
DALLAS — A jury has reached a verdict in the federal civil trial for a former North Texas officer convicted in the murder of a 15-year-old in 2018.
While responding to a disturbance call, Balch Springs police officer Roy Oliver shot into a vehicle that was driving away with five teenagers inside. Oliver and his partner responded to reports of underage drinking at a party. Oliver fired into a car carrying Jordan Edwards and his friends, later saying he feared the vehicle was moving toward and endangering his partner’s life.
Edwards was shot in the back of the head and died. Oliver was found guilty of murder in 2018 and was sentenced to 15 years in state prison, WFAA reported.
Edwards’ family filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages. On Monday, the jury found that Oliver used excessive force when he killed Edwards and that he is not entitled to qualified immunity.
The Edwards’ family was awarded $21.6 million in the lawsuit: $8.5 million to Edwards’ father for damages; $2.1 million in estate for damages such as mental anguish and funeral expenses; and $11 million in punitive damages.
“I grieve for the family and what they are going through,” Oliver said in his testimony. “I was just in fear that he was moving for a firearm.”
[RELATED: Ex-Texas cop gets 15 years in fatal OIS]