Former Balch Springs Police Officer Roy Oliver, who was convicted of murdering 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, is facing a civil lawsuit at the Earle Cabell Federal Building in Dallas.
In 2018, Oliver was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the murder of Edwards, who was shot and killed on April 29, 2017, while riding in the front passenger seat of a car.
On the night of the murder, police were dispatched after reports of underage drinking at a private party that Jordan and his two brothers were attending. Around 11 p.m., officers said they were searching for the homeowner when they heard what they believed to be a gunshot.
While searching for the source of the gunshot, police said they saw a Chevrolet Impala reversing, and one officer approached the car with his weapon drawn. The vehicle proceeded to drive away as Oliver shot at the car, killing Edwards.
Outside the courtroom, a witness who was at the location in 2017 testified that no officers appeared to be in danger on the night of the shooting.
“And once they started pulling forward, the officer started shooting. Shot about five times in the car,” said Reginald Mickens, per Fox 4 KDFW. “And one officer was at one right side of the corner, and he was on the curbside. And you know, he was out of the street. It wasn’t gonna hit him. He wasn’t in danger.”
During the hearing, law enforcement officers involved in the case and others were called to testify.
Jeff Fleener, Edwards’ head football coach, testified in the afternoon and said that he still supports Edwards’ family and that the trial has brought up many emotions.
“It immediately felt like a kick to the stomach again and brought a lot of emotions. We are coming up on the six-year anniversary, which is always a hard time for us,” said Fleener, per WFAA. “To this day, I make sure that his parents understand the second that they call and need something from me, we’re going to jump at the chance to do that.”
Daryl Washington, the attorney representing the Edwards family, says the case is one of the first in the nation to contest “qualified immunity.” Qualified immunity is meant to balance two interests. In this case, one interest is the potential need to hold police officers accountable for their actions and the other is the potential need to shield police officers from liability.
The goal of the civil trial, which began on Monday, is to establish if Roy Oliver should be made to pay the Edwards family any financial damages. Oliver could be available for parole in two years, but he might never be able to meet the cost he could be required to pay, which an economist estimated to be $7.7 million.
On Wednesday, Oliver took the stand to testify about his actions in 2017.
“I grieve for the family and what they are going through,” said Oliver, per WFAA.
Members of the family claimed that Oliver has yet to apologize to them. Washington alleges that Oliver was making excuses for his actions.
“If he was sorry, we wouldn’t be here today,” said Washington, per Fox 4. “He wouldn’t be on that stand still making excuses for taking Jordan’s life.”
The jury reconvened on Monday to continue deliberation, and a verdict is expected soon.
