Christian Taylor Killed By A Cosmetologist? Arlington Police Officer Brad Miller Had Recently Changed Careers

After Christian Taylor was fatally shot in Arlington, Texas, last week, the world learned a lot about the young black man. Taylor, 19, was going into his sophomore year at Angelo State University, where he played defensive back on the school's football team, he was an Arlington native and he was close to his family, the Washington Post reported.

But not much information was released about the white Arlington police officer who was fired from the force for shooting Taylor four times after Taylor drove his car into an auto dealership. Officer Brad Miller, 49, was still in field training during the shooting. Having no police experience before joining the Arlington Police Department in September 2014, Miller previously worked as a licensed cosmetologist in Arlington, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Miller worked at the Razldazl Salon in Arlington before joining the police force, having graduated in March. An owner of Razldazl, who did not want to be named, confirmed that Miller worked at the salon for about five years, but would not comment further.

He was working there in 2010 when he filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. At the time, Miller was the proprietor of the Red Banana salon.

Miller's attorney, John Snider, said Arlington police Chief Will Johnson erred in firing Miller this week for using poor judgment, the Dallas Morning News reported. Snider said Johnson used hindsight judgment to protect his own job.

"While Chief Johnson sits behind his desk and Monday-morning-quarterbacks an officer’s actions when coming face to face with a violent felon, his biggest fears are getting a paper cut or losing his six-figure salary," Snider told the Morning News. Snider could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Taylor's death has sparked vigils and protests in Arlington, with activists saying that Arlington has a history of racial tension.