Blackwell Officer Indicted In Shooting Will Go To Trial

A judge decided Wednesday a deadly police shooting case will go to trial. 

Blackwell police Lieutenant John Mitchell was indicted by a grand jury last year for killing a woman, identified as Michael Godsey during a pursuit.

Read Related: Preliminary Hearing Begins For Blackwell Police Officer

The preliminary hearing began at 9 a.m. in Perry, in Noble County. The judge ruled there was enough probable cause to proceed with a trial. He is charged with second degree murder or first degree manslaughter. 

The court watched dash-cam video Tuesday during the first day of the hearing. Officers  heard yelling, also sirens, and two different officers firing their guns, including Mitchell.

Tuesday two of Mitchell's fellow officers testified describing Godsey as someone they had encountered in the past. They also said that Godsey had likely been experiencing mental delusions.

The man who initially called 911 about Godsey also took the stand Tuesday, describing how his car was shot at, and how he briefly asked her if she was okay.

The Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police packed the Noble County courthouse to show their support for Mitchell.

“The outcome of this case could determine how law enforcement is handled in the state of Oklahoma. It couldn’t be more important to us, and we want to support our brother that we believe had to do a bad thing. He had to do a horrible thing, but he had to do it to save lives,” Jason Smith, president of the Oklahoma FOP said.