Jordan Edwards' Family Issues Statement, Demands 'Justice For Jordan'

Photo via Attorney S. Lee Merritt

UPDATE #3: Jordan Edwards' family has issued another statement, in which they request the time to mourn their slain son, saying "Though we understand what his life and death means symbolically, we are not ready to make a martyr of our son." Read the entire statement here.

UPDATE #2: Jordan Edwards' family has released a statement following the teenager's death. Read the statement below.

"We would first like to thank everyone for their kind words, thoughts, prayers, and condolences as we mourn the tremendous loss our family and community has suffered. We know that so many of you share in our loss. At this time, we ask that you please be respectful of our family, and allow us the opportunity and space to grieve. This entire ordeal has been inescapable.

Jordan was a loving child, with a humble and sharing spirit. The bond that he shared with his family, particularly his siblings, was indescribable. Not only have Jordan's brothers lost their best friend; they witnessed firsthand his violent, senseless murder. Their young lives will forever be altered. No one, let alone young children, should witness such horrific, unexplainable violence. While our family attempts to cope with our loss, we ask that at this time the community please refrain from protests and marches in Jordan's and our family's name, as we prepare for his funeral. We do not support nor do we condone any violence or threats made against the Balch Springs Police Department or any other law enforcement agencies.

What we desire, only second to having our beloved Jordan back, is JUSTICE FOR JORDAN."

With All of Our Love,

The Edwards Family

UPDATE: The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s office has ruled Jordan Edwards' death as a homicide, killed by a rifle wound to the head. Police are now retracting their initial statement that the vehicle Edwards was in was reversing toward the cop an "aggressive manner," with Balch Springs police chief Jonathan Haber saying, "I unintentionally (was) incorrect when I said the vehicle was backing down the road…in fact, I can tell you that I do have questions in relation to my observation (of) the video. After reviewing the video, I don't believe that it met our core values."

Read the original story below.

A 15-year-old black child in Texas was shot and killed by a police officer this weekend.

Jordan Edwards, a freshman that was attending Mesquite High School, was leaving a party with friends in Balch Springs, Texas, after hearing gunshots. As he was leaving he was shot through the passenger side window of the vehicle by a police officer.

According to a report, cops were already in the area responding to a call of drunken teens around 11 p.m. when they heard the gunshots. The report then describes the incident with Edwards and his friends as an "unknown altercation," with the vehicle that Edwards was in "backing down the street towards the officers in an aggressive manner." It was at this moment that one of the police officers fired at the car and ended up shooting Edwards.

During a news conference, Balch Springs police Chief Jonathan Haber said he did not have any information about whether weapons were found in the vehicle. Haber also stated the police department has been receiving threats since the incident occurred.

"Over the last several hours, we've received threats through social media towards officers…also towards our community," Haber said. "We want to encourage everyone to please just be patient."

According to Attorney S. Lee Merritt, legal counsel for Edwards' family, Edwards and his friends were not the allegedly intoxicated teens that police officers were called to control.

"They were simply leaving a party where they believed danger was," Merritt said in an interview with CBS-DFW. "So I can't wrap my mind around why an officer decided to shoot into the car."

Edwards' family has called for the removal of the police officer who shot the 15-year-old.

The Dallas County District Attorney's Office and the Dallas County Sheriff's Department have taken over the criminal investigation.