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April 13, 2015

Tulsa Reserve Deputy Who Killed Unarmed Man is Wealthy Police Donor 
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Video has been released showing an Oklahoma reserve sheriff's deputy
mistakenly shooting and killing an African American with his handgun,
instead of his stun gun. Video from the Oklahoma sheriff's department
shows police officers exiting their cars and chasing the victim, Eric
Harris, who was unarmed. After officers catch up to Harris and bring him
to the ground, an officer calls out the word "Taser" twice, before
firing a single, fatal shot at Harris. The other officers on the scene
respond to Harris' pleas for help by forcefully pinning him to the
ground and telling him to shut up. When Harris says: "I'm losing my
breath," an officer responds, "—-—- your breath." Harris was
pronounced dead an hour later. The deputy who killed Harris, Robert
Bates, is a wealthy insurance executive and heavy donor to the Tulsa
police department, who gets to volunteer as a reserve.

 

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