OKLAHOMA CITY — Five Oklahoma City police officers were charged with first-degree manslaughter in connection to last November’s death of a 15-year-old boy who was a suspect in an armed robbery.
Stavian Rodriguez, 15, was fatally shot by police on Nov. 23 after officers said he tried to rob a gas station at gunpoint, KOCO reported. The teen had dropped his gun on the ground and was reaching into his back pocket when police opened fire, according to surveillance video.
Officer Sarah Carli fired a “less lethal” round that struck Rodriguez, prosecutors said. Five other officers then “unnecessarily” fired their guns at Rodriguez, striking him multiple times, prosecutors said.
On Wednesday, authorities released body camera and surveillance videos of the shooting, KOCO reported.
Supporters say it's unfortunate OKC police 'lacked complete transparency' in Stavian Rodriguez case https://t.co/FmcV6jsbB6
— koconews (@koconews) March 11, 2021
The five officers charged in Rodriguez’s death are Bethany Sears, Jared Barton, Corey Adams, John Skuta and Brad Pemberton, according to The New York Times. First-degree manslaughter carries a penalty of four years to life in prison, prosecutors said.
Carli, who fired the “less lethal” round, was not charged, police said.
The shooting came after police had responded to a call for an armed robbery at the Okie Gas Express, the Times reported. Before officers arrived, the clerk had fled the store and locked Rodriguez, inside, according to police.
Rodriguez complied with the officers’ commands to come out of the store, climbing out a drive-thru window, prosecutors said. The teen pulled a gun from his pants, dropping it on the sidewalk.
When Rodriguez reached into his back pocket, Carli opened fire, followed by the other officers.
All the officers are currently on paid administrative leave, KOCO reported.
Rodriguez died after suffering 13 gunshot wounds, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Oklahoma County district attorney. The affidavit alleges the officers unnecessarily shot Rodriguez after officers were “simultaneously giving him varying commands.”
“Stavian Rodriguez had no weapons other than the firearm, which he dropped prior to being shot,” the affidavit said. “A cellphone was recovered from the left rear pocket he had his hand in at the time he was shot.”
Rodriguez’s mother, Cameo Holland, filed a lawsuit against Oklahoma City last month demanding access to the recordings after her open records request went unanswered, NBC News reported.
“Officers must make life and death decisions in a split second, relying on their training,” the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement. “When an armed robbery suspect did not obey police commands, five officers perceived the same threat and simultaneously fired their weapons.
“A loss of life is always a tragedy and we know these officers did not take firing their weapons lightly. The OKC FOP stands by these officers and maintains they acted within the law.”
Wyatt Cheatham, 17, also has been charged with murder in connection with Rodriguez’s death, KOCO reported. Cheatham was charged with first-degree murder after court documents allege he admitted to being involved in the armed robbery but was not at the convenience store when Rodriguez was shot.
In Oklahoma, a person can be charged with felony murder if someone dies while certain types of felonies are being committed, according to KOCO.
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