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DALLAS — A Dallas County jury has found ex-Balch Springs police officer Roy Oliver guilty of murder in the death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, an African-American youth who was unarmed when Oliver shot him in April 2017. The jury deliberated for about 12 hours over a period of two days before reaching its verdict. The courtroom erupted in cries and cheers from Edwards’ family afterward as they clapped and hugged each other. Odell Edwards, Jordan Edwards’ father, said his family is relieved and happy. “It’s been a long time, hard year and we’re just really happy,” he said, holding back...

The fired Balch Springs police officer who shot and killed a 15-year-old in a car leaving a party has been charged with murder, law enforcement officials confirmed to FOX4. The murder warrant for Roy Oliver was signed Friday afternoon by a Dallas judge. Oliver turned himself in late Friday evening.

A suburban Dallas police chief said Monday that his department inaccurately described why an officer fired at a moving vehicle over the weekend, killing a 15-year-old boy. Jordan Edwards and four other teenagers were in a vehicle leaving a party in Balch Springs Saturday night when an officer shot at them with his rifle. Police initially said the vehicle was backing up toward police at the scene "in an aggressive manner."

BALCH SPRINGS -- The officer who shot and killed 15-year-old Jordan Edwards has been fired. In a news conference, Balch Springs Police Chief Jonathan Haber said the officer, Roy Oliver, violated department policies, but won't elaborate which policies. Oliver has been with the department since 2011. He has 10 days to appeal. Jordan Edwards was killed in front of his brother as they were leaving a party over the weekend. Neighbors said a large house party was underway at the time. Balch Springs police said officers responded to a report of intoxicated teenagers on a residential street in the 12300...

As family and friends mourned the death of a 15-year-old boy shot in the head by a police officer in a Dallas suburb over the weekend, the police chief said Monday that new evidence showed the killing did not unfold the way the authorities had originally claimed. The Police Department in Balch Springs, Tex., said Sunday that the officer, whose name has not been released, fired on a car carrying the teenager, Jordan Edwards, a freshman at Mesquite High School in Balch Springs, because the car was reversing down a street toward the officer in an “aggressive manner.” But Jonathan...

Religious ban reversed for Balch Springs senior center City revokes policy that prompted federal inquiry, lawsuit By KARIN SHAW ANDERSON / The Dallas Morning News BALCH SPRINGS – The ban on spoken prayers, preaching and gospel music at the city-owned senior center is ending. The City Council voted unanimously Monday to revoke the policy, which had prompted a federal inquiry and a lawsuit by several senior citizens. An attorney for the seniors was awaiting word this week that the city had met all the demands of the lawsuit. "As long as the city cooperates and settles this thing, that's what...

(AgapePress) - A Texas city is the target of a government investigation after senior citizens at a public center were forbidden to exercise their religious freedom. In August, officials of the city of Balch Springs near Dallas, Texas, told residents who gathered daily at the local senior citizens center that they could not pray over their meals, sing gospel music, or have inspirational messages there because the center is a public building. Liberty Legal Institute, a public-interest legal group that fights to protect religious freedoms and First Amendment rights for individuals, groups, and churches, sued the city of Balch Springs...

BALCH SPRINGS, Texas — For years, senior citizens gathered at the Balch Springs Community Center on Monday mornings to enjoy a gray-haired gospel band known as "Silver Threads" and hear an inspirational message from the Rev. J.B. Barton. Until a few weeks ago, nobody seemed to mind. But then three residents said they were offended by religious activity at the city-owned center. So, officials in the Dallas suburb put a stop to it. "The bottom line and the central issue was the fact that the city operates a public-funded community center, not a church," said David Berman, attorney for Balch...

After three members of the center complained, city officials told the seniors they could no longer conduct group prayers over their meals, sing gospel music or hold weekly inspirationals given by one of their members -- a preacher.

A group of senior citizens told not to pray or sing gospel songs at a Balch Springs senior center gave the city a week to reverse its policy Monday or face a federal lawsuit. A month ago, city officials ordered them to stop group prayers over meals and gospel songs after three people from the center complained about religious activity in the public facility, said Barney Clark, 77, a 10-year member of the center. Clark said Mayor James Kelsey told seniors they could pray individually off to the side. Balch Springs is in southeast Dallas County. "Me and my wife...