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Police Video Shows Killing Of Black Oklahoma Suspect

In this frame from the video released by police, Eric Harris is held down after being shot by reserve deputy Robert Bates.
In this frame from the video released by police, Eric Harris is held down after being shot by reserve deputy Robert Bates.

A man can be heard apologizing and admitting to shooting a man in a video released at the weekend that documents the killing of a black suspect by a white reserve sheriff’s deputy in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Police have said that the 73-year-old Tulsa County reserve deputy Robert Bates thought he was holding a stun gun, not his handgun, when he fired at 44-year-old Eric Harris in the April 2 incident.

The video, shot by deputies with sunglass cameras and released over the weekend on the request of the victim’s family, shows a deputy chase and tackle Harris, whom they said tried to sell an illegal gun to an undercover officer. A deputy is heard telling Harris, “I need you to roll on your stomach.” A woman can be heard saying, “Stop fighting.”

As the deputy subdues Harris on the ground, a gunshot rings out and a man says: “Oh, I shot him. I’m sorry.”

Harris screams: “He shot me. Oh, my God,” and a deputy replies: “You f—ing ran. Shut the f— up.”

When Harris says he’s losing his breath, a deputy replies, “F— your breath.”

Harris was treated by medics at the scene and died in a Tulsa hospital.

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