Former Tulsa reserve deputy who fatally shot an unarmed, restrained suspect gets 4 yrs

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://gawker.com/tulsa-reserve-deputy-gets-4-years-in-prison-for-inadve-1779733300

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Xpyv0tML--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/mwhkkqyssxf3ljc7izpr.jpg

A former Tulsa reserve deputy who fatally shot an unarmed, restrained suspect after mistaking his gun for his Taser was sentenced to 4 years in prison on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

Last month, 74-year-old Robert Bates was convicted of second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting Eric Harris, whom other officers had already pinned to the ground during a gun sales sting operation. In a video of the shooting later released to the public, Bates can be heard apologizing for firing his weapon while deputies ignore Harris’ pleas for help.


"Fuck Your Breath": Video of "Inadvertent" Police Shooting Released
On Friday, authorities released footage of the final moments of Eric Courtney Harris, the unarmed…

After the shooting, the Tulsa World discovered that Bates, a wealthy insurance executive, had donated thousands of dollars in equipment to the sheriff’s office. Bates later characterized accusations that he was allowed to “play cop” because of his contributions as “unbelievably unfair.”

“You must believe me. This can happen to anyone,” Bates told TODAY. “The laser light is the same on each weapon. I saw the light and I squeezed the trigger and then realized I dropped the gun.”

According to the AP, Bates’ lawyers called the killing an “excusable homicide” during the trial and argued that Harris died, in part, due to poor cardiac health and methamphetamine found in his blood. After convicting Harris, jurors recommended that Bates serve the maximum possible sentence for his crime.

_____

After a brief foot chase, the video shows an officer subduing Harris and Reserve Deputy Robert Bates, 73, can be heard shouting "Taser!" before a single shot rings out. "I shot him," Bates says afterward, "I'm sorry."

Pinned by multiple sheriff's deputies, a panicked Harris repeats "He shot me!" eight times before saying, "I'm losing my breath."

"Fuck your breath," an officer replies.

At a press conference on Friday, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Capt. Billy McKelvey told reporters that deputies were not aware Harris had been shot, having not heard the weapon discharge.


http://gawker.com/fuck-your-breath-video-of-inadvertent-police-shoot-1697315874

[napi21]

1. Stupid b'td. He deserves more than 4 yrs, but at 74, he'll

probably die in jail. From what I've heard, life isn't very nice for a cop behind bars either.

I can only HOPE the idiot sheriff who put him on the force because he was a friend, has learned his lesson that friendship has no place in the hiring process.

[Major Nikon]

3. I'll be surprised if he does a year

[historian]

5. exactly

The fact that he is a former sheriff means he wont last long in a prison, so he will be sent home. Period

[bjo59]

2. Saw his chance to use that gun and he took it.

Every undemocratic state thrives off the police seeing the public as the enemy. (This incident is so sickening and remains so no matter how many times I read about it.)

[historian]

4. horrible but not surprising

In this country where guns and violence are a daily occurrence such things are no long surprising. Now the deputy will serve a few months in a nice country club, then plead old age, or having found jesus and will be out having served 1/10th of his sentence.