Officer

Brothers of Christian Taylor Question Fatal Shooting

Two older brothers of Christian Taylor, a Texas college football player who was killed by a rookie police officer during a burglary call at a car dealership, said they do not understand the shooting that took his life.

"He's a kid, he's a kid," said Adrian Taylor. "Kids do dumb things sometimes. Nobody's life should be taken. Not in that manner."

Police have asked the FBI to participate in the investigation into the death of Christian Taylor. Arlington police officer Brad Miller, who is white, is on administrative leave after the shooting early Friday morning of 19-year-old Christian Taylor, who was black.

"Just a good kid," Joshua Taylor said of Christian. "[He] had his head on straight, academics and everything."

A football standout — Christian Taylor was about to be a sophomore at Angelo State University.

His brothers said they always had faith in their baby brother, also known as "CJ."

"C.J. was a special character," Adrian Taylor said. "He represented his family well ... couldn't ask for a better brother."

Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson said Miller and another officer found Taylor "freely roaming" inside the dealership when they arrived. After Taylor tried to escape from another side of the building, the other officer used a stun gun and Miller fired four rounds with his service weapon, Johnson said.

Police had gone to the Classic Buick GMC dealership in Arlington, about 10 miles west of Dallas, after being contacted by a company that manages security cameras for the car dealership. Police were advised that someone had driven a car onto the lot, started to damage another car, then drove his own vehicle through the glass front of the showroom, a police sergeant said earlier Saturday.

While officers investigate Christian Taylor's death, his brothers want people to know more about him.

"Couldn't ask for nothing more," Joshua Taylor said. "[He] did everything he was asked to do ... took care of his business ... definitely on the right path and was getting his life together."

"You're gonna make mistakes you have to learn," Adrian Taylor said. "He didn't get a chance to learn. His life is over."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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