Cop mistakes his own gun for taser and shoots/kills suspect (Vid in Link)

[MikeMaslowski]

Bodies are piling up. What say you? Was it an accident?

SEE IT: Video shows Tulsa man’s last moments alive after accidental police shooting (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT)

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.2181787

It was a mistake.

That’s the blasé explanation Oklahoma officials gave after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a white deputy who accidentally pulled his gun when he meant to use his Taser.

The botched encounter was captured on a disturbing video released by police on Friday — nine days after the fatal Tulsa shooting.

“He shot me! He shot me, man. Oh, my god. I’m losing my breath,” Eric Harris says as he struggles on the ground following the April 2 shooting, which flew under the radar until video emerged a week later.

“F--- your breath,” a callous officer can be heard saying. “Shut the f--- up!”

Reserve Deputy Robert Bates, 73, (below) shouted “Taser! Taser!” before pulling the trigger on his gun, firing a round into Harris.

“I shot him!” the former policeman says, dropping his gun. “I’m sorry.”

Bates was assisting other deputies who were trying to take Harris into custody after the felon fled from police during a sting operation, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office’s said.

“You shouldn’t have f-----g ran!” another deputy screams, as Harris is held down by his neck and head.

Harris, who was in his 40s, was pronounced dead about an hour after the shooting, authorities said.

He had bolted from officers who were trying to arrest him for selling a 9 mm. semiautomatic pistol and ammunition to undercover cops.

Harris, who was unarmed, had reportedly done time for assault and battery on an officer.

He was “absolutely a threat when going down,” Tulsa Police Sgt. Jim Clark said at a news conference.

Sheriff’s Capt. Billy McKelvey claims the arresting officers were not aware Harris had been shot, despite the gunshot noise and Bates’ admission. They called paramedics and firefighters, and rendered aid when they realized, McKelvey said.

“He made an inadvertent mistake,” McKelvey said.

Sgt. Dave Walker told the Tulsa World that police “would not investigate the death unless the sheriff’s office asked them to, and they have not asked us to.”

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Yup.

Don't even get me started. I'm still pissed off about that.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by NewChief

Holy lawsuit.

Wealthy shooter and negligent PD. Literally a litigation gold mine for his decedents.

[planetdoc]

Oklahoma Reserve Deputy, 73, Charged With Second-Degree Manslaughter in Stun-Gun Mix-Up: Tulsa DA

"Mr. Bates is charged with Second-Degree Manslaughter involving culpable negligence. Oklahoma law defines culpable negligence as ‘the omission to do something which a reasonably careful person would do, or the lack of the usual ordinary care and caution in the performance of an act usually and ordinarily exercised by a person under similar circumstances and conditions,'” Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said in a statement today.

"The defendant is presumed to be innocent under the law but we will be prepared to present evidence at future court hearings."

[FD]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Wealthy shooter and negligent PD. Literally a litigation gold mine for his decedents.

Literally???!

[temper11]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

And you should remember there are a lot of good cops out there. Selflessly serving the community.

This. One of the unfortunate effects of all of this is the distrust that is growing between police officers, who are for the most part, good people trying to do a good job for the people of their community.

These high profile incidents are putting a black mark on police as a whole, which is not a good thing for our society.

I think bad cops should be punished to the full extent of the law. But I hope that society can get beyond the rhetoric that many are engaging in that "all cops are racist, power hungry, killers".

- Not all priests are child molesters
- not all musicians are drug addicts
- not all athletes are steroid users
- not all CP'ers are poor judges of QB talent

Thought I throw in just a bit of comic relief to lighten it up a bit.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Dicky McElephant

Yeah.....there always ends up being a knee on a neck. Is that ****ing necessary for everyone?

Nope. And you are trained not to put your knees on them.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

I don't think it can be murder if you can't prove malice.

This is nothing like the SC shooting.

This. The real guilty party here is the guy that approved a senior citizen to be running around in a police uni with a loaded gun. And the treatment of the victim after the shooting. My first impression when hearing this story of mistaking the gun for a taser was "Bull Spit!". Then when I learned he was seventy-****ing-three years old?!? WTF?

[temper11]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

ahh but its implied. By stating that its not murder but not offering up an alternative charge it implies that no crime was committed.

By stating that its an 'accident,' it implies that the individual should not face criminal reprecussions.

I'm just trying to cut through all the bullshit.

No... I disagree with this 100%. If I fall asleep at the wheel of my car and kill someone, it wasn't murder, but I will/should absolutely still spend time in jail for manslaughter. This situation, if malice can't be proven, is much the same thing.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

Oklahoma Reserve Deputy, 73, Charged With Second-Degree Manslaughter in Stun-Gun Mix-Up: Tulsa DA

"Mr. Bates is charged with Second-Degree Manslaughter involving culpable negligence. Oklahoma law defines culpable negligence as ‘the omission to do something which a reasonably careful person would do, or the lack of the usual ordinary care and caution in the performance of an act usually and ordinarily exercised by a person under similar circumstances and conditions,'” Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said in a statement today.

"The defendant is presumed to be innocent under the law but we will be prepared to present evidence at future court hearings."

He has money, is white, and the victim is black. In Oklahomo. He's not serving time. You heard it here first.

[Chief_For_Life58]

Maybe you shouldn't run from a cop?

[temper11]

Originally Posted by Brock

"**** your breath" no, not malicious at all

The shooter did not say this... at least not my interpretation of the one time I watched the vid.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

He has money, is white, and the victim is black. In Oklahomo. He's not serving time. You heard it here first.

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

Maybe you shouldn't run from a cop?

Classic Oklohomoan.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by teedubya

And I'd wager that it's only going to get worse. Especially since many states are trying to pass laws making it illegal to video record three police.

I don't know if what you said above is true or not (not disputing it, just haven't heard it).

What I have heard is a major push by police forces across the county to outfit all of their cops with body cameras.

[teedubya]

Originally Posted by temper11

I don't know if what you said above is true or not (not disputing it, just haven't heard it).



What I have heard is a major push by police forces across the county to outfit all of their cops with body cameras.

Texas is pursuing a bill to outlaw video taping police. Chicago passed one... And I've read of others but I don't recall which areas are doing that.

I'm all about the cops wearing body cameras. It radically improves cops attitudes and the people who are being arrested. Complaints against cops dropped dramatically, as well.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by temper11

This. One of the unfortunate effects of all of this is the distrust that is growing between police officers, who are for the most part, good people trying to do a good job for the people of their community.

These high profile incidents are putting a black mark on police as a whole, which is not a good thing for our society.

I think bad cops should be punished to the full extent of the law. But I hope that society can get beyond the rhetoric that many are engaging in that "all cops are racist, power hungry, killers".

- Not all priests are child molesters
- not all musicians are drug addicts
- not all athletes are steroid users
- not all CP'ers are poor judges of QB talent

Thought I throw in just a bit of comic relief to lighten it up a bit.

It's no unfortunate at all. In fact, it's necessary. Until they start arresting their corrupt compatriots and driving them out of the force, they should all have to wear the same scarlet letter.