7 Lawyers Reviewed Deadly Use Of Force Cases Before Okla. County DA Dropped Charges

A big decision from the Oklahoma County District Attorney on Friday changed the course of seven metro officers’ lives. Vicki Behenna announced her plans to dismiss criminal charges against the officers involved in three 2020 deadly shooting cases. The seven officers faced charges ranging from first-degree manslaughter to second-degree murder. After Friday, those charges will be dismissed with prejudice.

Related Coverage:

1. Oklahoma County DA Drops Charges In Officer-Involved Shootings
2. WATCH VIDEO: Oklahoma County DA Vicki Behenna Press Conference
3. WATCH VIDEO: OKC Fraternal Order Of Police News Conference
4. Oklahoma City Police Chief Releases Statement After Charges Dropped In 3 Officer-Involved Shootings
5. Family Of Stavian Rodriguez React To DA’s Decision To Drop Charges In Nov. 2020 Shooting

The DA led the press conference remembering the lives lost three years ago.

“Remember there is a 15-year-old boy that lost his life, a 60-year-old who was mentally ill who lost his life and a 40-year-old man who was a father and a husband,” said Vicki Behenna, Oklahoma County District Attorney.

Behenna informed the families of Christopher Poor, Stavian Rodriguez and Bennie Edwards she planned to dismiss all charges against the Oklahoma City officers and Village officer. Behenna said the decision was made after hundreds of hours of reviewing the cases with a team of seven attorneys and a use of force expert. They determined under Oklahoma law all were justified uses of deadly force.

“That law basically says that if a suspect is trying to evade arrest and the suspect is believed to have committed a crime involving serious bodily harm or threat of serious bodily harm,” said Behenna. “Force, even deadly force can be justifiable.”

The DA's announcement was bittersweet for the attorney representing two accused officers.

“People seem to forget how much it affects an officer an officer to take a life,” said Gary James, attorney.

Attorney Gary James commented on how the DA will now turn over deadly officer-involved shootings to the multi-county grand jury to investigate.

“Multi-county grand juries are decided by people who don’t have training in law enforcement,” said James. “Who don’t have training in the law.”

Behenna said she met with the Oklahoma City and The Village Chiefs of Police earlier Friday. Their officers have been on paid administrative leave since the shootings.