An attorney for a former Arlington, Texas, police officer who shot and killed an unarmed college football player ripped into the city’s police chief on Wednesday.
Attorney John Snider suggested that Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson fired officer Brad Miller for self-serving reasons.
“This decision, while politically expedient for Chief Johnson, is an insult to the rank and file officers who put their lives on the line every day,” said Snider.
Officer Brad Miller shot and killed an unarmed college football player, Christian Taylor, during an incident at a car dealership in Arlington on August 7.
The officer was fired for “exercising poor judgment,” the city’s police chief said in a press conference on Tuesday.
Snider defended the actions of his client.
“Officer Miller made decisions in the heat of a violent confrontation to save his and other officers’ lives,” said Snider.
Miller’s lawyer also said the police chief’s “biggest fears are getting a paper cut or losing his six figure salary.”
“Chief Johnson used 20/20 hindsight to protect his job and appease anti-police activists,” said Snider.
The officer was in the last stages of his field training when he shot Christian Taylor, 19, multiple times at a car dealership.
A security company called 911 after Taylor allegedly drove his SUV through the front window of the dealership showroom. When officers arrived, Taylor was inside. Authorities have said that he did not comply with initial calls to surrender.
Miller entered the building alone, according to police. He reportedly told investigators he feared he would be overpowered by Taylor, who was moving quickly toward him while cursing. Miller was later joined inside the building by his training officer, a 19-year veteran. Miller fired four times and the other officer used a stun gun.
There was no physical contact between Taylor and the officers.
Taylor played defensive back at Angelo State University. Last year’s roster listed him as a 5-foot-9, 180-pound freshman.
Arlington Police declined to comment on Miller’s attorney statement, but said a criminal investigation is ongoing.