Arlington Police Officer Cleared in Fatal Shooting of Angelo State Football Player Christian Taylor

Brad Miller, the 49-year-old officer with the Arlington Police Department who shot an unarmed teenager, 19-year-old Christian Taylor, was cleared of any wrongdoing yesterday by a grand jury.

News hit the World Wide Web that Miller will not face criminal charges. Miller shot and killed Taylor, an Angelo State University student about to begin his sophomore year, on Aug. 7, 2015.

At about 1 a.m. that morning, Arlington Police Department officers were dispatched to a burglary call at Classic Buick GMC in the 1400 block of E. Interstate 20 frontage road. Upon arrival at the car dealership, officers found that a vehicle had been driven through the front of the building. After establishing a perimeter, officers approached and confronted Taylor. 

According to APD officials, there was an altercation and Miller discharged his weapon four times, hitting Taylor at least twice. Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators determined he had no weapon.

Miller started with the department in September 2014, and had been in field training. He was working under the supervision of a Police Training Officer since graduating from the Police Academy in March 2015. He had no previous commendation or discipline history with the department. However, Miller was fired within days of the shooting.

ASU President Dr. Brian J. May said faculty and staff did hear the news about the grand jury’s decision.

“We were deeply saddened by [Christian’s] death, and our students were as well,” said Dr. May in response. “Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

To access the original stories in this case, click here and here.