| Killing of Eric Harris | |
|---|---|
 Bodycam footage showing Eric Harris running from the police, prior to getting shot. | |
| Location | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States |
| Date | April 2, 2015 11:00 a.m. CST (17:00 UTC) |
| Victim | Eric Courtney Harris, aged 43 |
| Perpetrator | Robert Charles Bates |
| Verdict | Guilty |
| Convictions | Second-degree manslaughter
|
| Sentence | 4 years in prison (paroled after 1+1⁄2 years) |
On April 2, 2015, 43-year-old African-American Eric Courtney Harris was fatally shot during an undercover sting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Harris ran from authorities unarmed.[1][2][3] While Harris was being subdued, Tulsa County Reserve Deputy Robert Charles Bates, 73, claims he confused his personal weapon, a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver, for a Model X26 Taser.[4] Bates shot Harris in the back when he was on the ground. According to the Tulsa County Sheriff's office, he immediately said afterwards, "Oh, I shot him! I'm sorry."[5] Bates was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter (unintentional homicide resulting from criminal negligence) and sentenced to four years in prison, and was released after serving 18 months.
- ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard (April 14, 2015). "Lawyers Square Off in Tulsa as Reserve Deputy Surrenders in Unarmed Man's Death". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ^ Bankoff, Caroline & Fuller, Jaime (April 13, 2015). "Video: 'F*ck Your Breath', Says Cop to Man Who Has Just Been Fatally Shot". New York. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ^ Pierce, Charles P. (April 13, 2015). "You Can't Tell The Cops From The Cops Any More". Esquire. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ^ Yan, Holly (April 14, 2015). "How easy is it to confuse a gun for a Taser?". CNN. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ Goforth, Dylan; Branstetter, Ziva (April 16, 2015). "Sources: Supervisors told to falsify reserve deputy's training records; department announces internal review". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 2, 2015.