A white police officer charged with murder after being accused of shooting dead a black man who tried to shake his hand has been fired.

Shaun Lucas, 22, allegedly killed motivational speaker Jonathan Price, 31, in Wolfe City, Texas, on October 3 – just seven months after joining the force.

City officials stated he was sacked due to “his egregious violation of the city’s and police department’s policies”.

Lucas fired four shots into Price’s chest after being called to reports of a fight at a convenience store in the city, which lies 60 miles north east of Dallas, according to an affidavit.