Why FBI declined to investigate police shooting of Texas teen
The FBI will聽not participate in the investigation into the death of an unarmed, black Texas teenager, who was fatally shot by a white police officer on Friday 鈥� at least, not at this point 鈥� according to Allison Mahan, a spokeswoman with the FBI's Dallas office.
海角大神 Taylor, 19, was fatally shot after police responded to a burglary call at a vehicle dealership in the聽Dallas聽suburb of聽Arlington.
The Arlington Police Department say they are currently investigating Mr. Taylor's聽death as a possible criminal case and will determine whether department rules were broken.
Police Chief Will Johnson, acknowledged the fatal shooting amid falling public confidence in police across the nation following video evidence of officers using excessive force. 鈥淚t has occurred,鈥� Chief Johnson said, 鈥渁s our nation has been wrestling with the topics of social injustice, inequities, racism, and police misconduct.鈥�
According to reports, Johnson promised a 鈥渧igorous, thorough and transparent鈥� investigation into the shooting.
Johnson invited the outside scrutiny of the FBI, but the FBI declined to join the investigation at this point.
"The Dallas FBI has full confidence in the ability of the Arlington Police Department and Tarrant County District Attorney's Office to conduct a thorough investigation of this matter," said Ms. Mahan, to an NBC Dallas-Fort Worth聽affiliate. "If in the course of the investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal civil rights violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate."
praised the Arlington Police Department's handling of the incident saying that they are 鈥渟etting the right tone鈥� by carrying out a transparent investigation.
鈥淭hat mistrust only grows when police brass circle the wagons. Chief Johnson has made a good start as Arlington finds itself in the spotlight in the national debate over police tactics,鈥� Mondays editorial reads.
In interviews with the Associated Press,聽Taylor's聽parents declined to talk about the fatal confrontation. His mother, Tina聽Taylor, said police have not told them what prompted the officer to shoot her son.
Sgt. Christopher Cook said investigators cannot yet offer details on the confrontation because they have not completed all of their interviews.
This report includes material from the Associated Press.
