Who was Stavian Rodriguez? Oklahoma teen robbery suspect shot dead by cops, 5 officers charged with manslaughter
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA: A 15-year-old boy, who was a suspect in an armed robbery, was shot dead on November 23. In connection with this case, five Oklahoma City police officers have been charged with manslaughter on Wednesday.
As per the Washington Examiner, Rodriquez was shot by officers "multiple times" and the identities of the officers charged have also been released — Bethany Sears, Jared Barton, Corey Adams, John Skuta, and Brad Pemberton. Another police officer, Sgt. Sarah Carli, was also involved but escaped charges because she used a "less-lethal weapon" as per officials.
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Who was Stavian Rodriguez?
Born July 13, 2005, in Galveston Texas, Rodriguez had grown up in Oklahoma City. He went to Midwest City High School and as per a memorial, he loved to play basketball and Xbox and wanted to be a player in the sport or a geologist. He is survived by his mother Cameo Holland, father Steven Rodriguez, sister Miraya Camacho, brothers Miguel Camacho and Kevin Downing and step brothers, Gino and Benny Cedillo.
As per reports, before the child was shot, police responded to an armed robbery that had taken place at the Okie Gas Express on November 23. Rodriguez escaped through a window after being locked in the building by the store's clear. The publication reported that there is a video of the incident where officers ask Rodriguez to show them his hands. The teenager pulled out a gun that he had secured in his waistband and threw it on the floor. Another person is heard asking the teenager to "face down on the ground". It was reported that Rodriguez them "appeared to attempt to remove something from his pocket." The teenager was shot seconds later by "multiple" officers — he died after sustaining 13 gunshots.
Back when the incident occurred, KOCO 5 News Reporter Perris Jones tweeted, "I spoke to the mother and a former teacher of 15-year-old Stavian Rodriguez. He was the armed robbery suspect shot and killed by OKC police officers Monday night. Police say he did not follow commands and made furtive movements which led to the shooting. @koconews"
COMING UP AT 6: I spoke to the mother and a former teacher of 15-year-old Stavian Rodriguez. He was the armed robbery suspect shot and killed by OKC police officers Monday night. Police say he did not follow commands and made furtive movements which led to the shooting. @koconews pic.twitter.com/29VNd4lAFo
— Perris Jones (@KOCOPerris) November 25, 2020
An attorney for Rodriguez's family, Rand Eddy said, "The Oklahoma City Police Department has been perpetuating the murder of innocent and unarmed people for decades. Of the many forms of justice Stavian and his family deserve, we hope to see an end to this senseless violence and tragedy in our community." Also, on Wednesday in a statement on Facebook, Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Policy John Gage said: "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."
According to NBC News, the Oklahoma County district attorney's office wrote in a probable cause affidavit, "Stavian Rodriguez had no weapons other than the firearm, which he dropped prior to being shot. A cellphone was recovered from the left rear pocket he had his hand in at the time he was shot."
On Wednesday, David Prater Oklahoma County District Attorney revealed that that the officers would be charged and it was reported that police also released body camera videos.