Robbery Details Paint Picture Of What Led Up To Deadly Police Shooting Of Stavian Rodriguez

The Oklahoma County District Attorney charged five police officers Wednesday after a fatal November shooting that killed 15-year-old Stavian Rodriguez. 

District Attorney David Prater and the Oklahoma City Police Department released more than an hour of officer bodycam and security camera footage from the armed robbery turned fatal shooting. Prater did not comment on the charges except to say the video speaks for itself. 

Read: OKC Body Camera Footage Reveals Details Of Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting Of 15-Year-Old

The first-degree manslaughter charge comes after months of review by DA David Prater’s office. 

Officers responded to an armed burglary the evening of Nov. 23 at Okie Gas & Express on S. Western Ave. in Oklahoma City. Upon arrival, a gunman later identified as Rodriguez was locked inside the store. 

Rodriguez climbed out of the drive-thru window of the store to a crowd of officers with guns drawn. Camera footage shows the officers telling Rodriguez to drop his gun and “get on the ground.” 

Rodriguez shows his waist and drops the pistol on the ground and then moves his left hand behind his back, appearing to reach for his pocket or waistband. At that moment the officers fired a barrage of bullets, 13 of which struck Rodriguez. 

Court documents and police statements reveal what led up to the gunfire, and who allegedly worked with Rodriguez prior to the robbery. 

Wyatt Cheatham, 17, was charged in December with armed robbery and felony murder in connection to Rodriguez’ death. 

An arrest warrant said officers found Rodriguez’ phone in his back left pocket after the shooting. Investigators found pictures of him and another person with a gun similar to the one dropped at the scene. The other person in the pictures was later identified as Cheatham. 

Security footage from inside the store shows Rodriguez pointing a gun at the cashier while demanding money as Cheatham puts cartons of cigarettes into a bag. 

According to charging documents, both left the store briefly. After about two minutes, Rodriguez returned and demanded more money. The cashier immediately escapes out the drive-thru window and locks Rodriguez inside. 

News 9 asked Prater if the charges against the five officers would impact the case against Cheatham. “That decision has not been made yet,” he said in an email.