Five Oklahoma City police officers will be charged with first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old robbery suspect last November.
The officers were identified by police as Bethany Sears, Jared Barton, Corey Adams, John Skuta and Brad Pemberton.
The suspect, Stavian Rodriguez, was shot after he had dropped a gun outside an Okie Gas Express in Oklahoma City, USA Today reports.
Police in November said Rodriguez was shot when he did not follow officers' commands after climbing out of the drive-through window, holding a pistol.
Officers ordered Rodriguez to show his hands.
He responded by lifting his shirt, taking the gun out of his waistband and holding it out by its extended magazine. "Oh, don't do that," one officer said. Rodriguez has his right hand raised as he bends forward and drops the gun from two fingers. He then can be seen lowering his hands and reaching toward a back pocket as he is being told to get down.
The Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police said again Wednesday that the officers acted lawfully.
“Officers must make life and death decisions in a split second, relying on their training," said John George, the FOP president.
"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.”
