Balch Springs, TX - 

Fifteen-year-old Jordan Edwards’ life was cut drastically short after a Balch Springs, Texas police officer fatally shot him in the head on Saturday night (April 29) as he was leaving a party, sparking outrage across the country. Officer Roy Oliver, who has since been fired from the force, alleged he stopped the car Edwards was riding in because it was reversing down a street in an “aggressive manner,” according to The New York Times.

Police Chief Jonathan Haber, however, held a news conference on Monday (May 1) where he refuted the initial claims and admitted that video footage shows the car was, in fact, moving forward as the officers approached. Edwards’ family lawyer, Lee Merritt, called this admission a “big deal.”

“There were no weapons involved; there was no aggressive behavior; these were not suspects,” Mr. Merritt said. “The lone motive they had for the murder was that the vehicle was being used as a weapon, and now that is no longer there.”

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Edwards, who was a high school freshman at Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas, held a 3.5 GPA, was a popular football player and had aspirations of playing college football. His death can now be added to the ever-evolving list of black men who were killed at the hands of white police officers, tragedies that continue to deepen the divisiveness across the United States.

Countless people have taken to social media to express their feelings on the matter, including T.I., Lecrae, Big Boi, Dee Barnes, Jussie Smollett, Shaun King, and the Edwards’ lawyer, Mr. Merritt. The investigation is ongoing. Officer Oliver is reportedly appealing his termination.

Check out the reactions to Jordan Edwards’ death below.

"Ain't no BLACK POWER when we let them kill our babies!!!" #RIPJordanEdwards

A post shared by TIP (@troubleman31) on

We are 3 days into month 5 of 2017. 15-year old #JordanEdwards is the 331st person killed by law enforcement in the U.S. this year. The repetition is deafening. Yet still we yell your name young brother. Love, light & respect to your family. ?? #Repost @teenvogue ・・・ This weekend, #JordanEdwards was killed by police in Texas. The 15-year-old, a popular student and football player, was leaving a party when an officer shot into the vehicle he was riding in, because the car was allegedly driving in an “aggressive manner." But yesterday, after a review of body cam footage, it was revealed that the killing did not unfold the way the authorities originally claimed –– the car was simply “moving forward as the officers approached.” Speaking through their lawyer, Jordan's family told Teen Vogue that he shared an "indescribable" bond with his siblings, like his brother, who was with Jordan when he was shot and witnessed his "violent, senseless, murder." They are asking the world for space and time to grieve, saying, "this entire ordeal has been inescapable." Jordan is 331st person killed by police in 2017, 83 of whom have been black. #BlackLivesMatter

A post shared by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on