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Deputy Who Shot Eric Harris Charged with Second-Degree Manslaughter

Deputy Who Shot Eric Harris Charged with Second-Degree Manslaughter

The volunteer reserve deputy who shot and killed unarmed suspect Eric Harris following a sting operation in Tulsa, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter. 73-year-old Robert Bates can be heard on a video of the shooting saying “I shot him. I’m sorry,” after yelling “Taser, Taser.” Bates claims he meant to grab his stun gun, and instead fired a shot from his handgun that would kill Harris. In a statement, the city’s District Attorney said, “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.’”

Video of the shooting has caused a national outrage, as Bates’ fellow officers can be heard taunting Harris as he cried out in agony. Harris can be heard screaming, “”He shot me! He shot me, man. Oh, my God. I’m losing my breath.” As he’s being pinned to the ground, other officers can be heard saying, “F— your breath … You shouldn’t have f—–g ran!” …

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