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Christian Taylor, Football Player Killed By Police During Break-In, Had Drugs in System: Autopsy

An autopsy found that tests indicate Christian Taylor, 19, had traces of THC and a synthetic psychedelic drug in his system when he was shot Aug. 7.
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The college football player fatally shot by a rookie police officer during a break-in at a car dealership in Texas last month had traces of a psychedelic drug in his system, an initial autopsy report has found.

Christian Taylor, 19, was unarmed when he was shot and killed by Arlington police officer Brad Miller at a car dealership in the early morning hours of Aug. 7.

An autopsy report released Wednesday said tests determined the presence of a "synthetic psychedelic drug" that can cause hallucinations. Tests also found the presence of THC, the psychoactive element of marijuana, in an amount consistent with recent use.

Taylor, a sophomore at Angelo State University in San Angelo, was acting erratically and stomped through the windshield of a parked Ford Mustang before crashing his Jeep Grand Cherokee into the dealership, surveillance video shows. He allegedly told an officer who responded that he was there to steal a car, Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson has said.

Related: FBI Invited to Assist in Probe After Cop Kills College Student Christian Taylor

Miller, a 49-year-old recruit officer finishing up his year of supervised training, was found to have used poor judgment in entering the dealership alone and without telling other officers. He was fired four days after the shooting.

Johnson said at that time that Miller's decision to enter the building alone and without an arrest plan contributed to the confrontation that preceded the deadly shooting.

Taylor was shot four times, according to the autopsy report.

Related: Christian Taylor, Texas Teen Killed By Cop, Tweeted: 'I Don't Wanna Die Too Young'

Image: College student shot and killed by police officer inside car dealership
Christian Taylor, who was shot and killed by Arlington, Texas police officer Brad Miller who was responding to a report of a burglary in a car dealership in Arlington, Texas.ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY / HANDOU / EPA