The Oklahoma County District Attorney filed charges of manslaughter in the first degree against five officers who were involved in a shooting of a teen armed robbery suspect in November.
Police were called to a report of a man with a gun robbing the Okie Gas Express on November 23. During that armed robbery, 15-year-old Stavian Rodriguez was locked inside the gas station by an employee before officers arrived. Once they arrived they ordered Rodriguez to come outside and he exited the building via a window, still armed with the gun.
An officer involved shooting occurred, with five officers discharging their weapons. A sixth officer fired a less-lethal round. No charges were filed against the less-lethal shooter. Rodriguez died as a result of the shooting.
Manslaughter charges were filed against Officers Bethany Sears, Jared Barton, Corey Adams, John Skuta and Brad Pemberton. All of the officers are now on paid administrative leave.
John George, president of the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police, had this to say “When an armed robbery suspect did not obey police commands, five officers perceived the same threat and simultaneously fired their weapons,” George said. “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.”
A teenager also has been charged with murder in connection with the robbery and Rodriguez’s death. 17-year-old Wyatt Cheatham was charged with first-degree murder after he admitted being involved with the armed robbery, but was not at the store when the shooting occurred.
Store Surveillance With Bodycam Audio Of Shooting
This piece was written by Ray Dietrich on March 10, 2021. It originally appeared in RedVoiceMedia.com and is used by permission.
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