Thread: Eric Harris Was on Meth When Tulsa Deputy Robert Bates Shot Him

Eric Harris Was on Meth When Tulsa Deputy Robert Bates Shot Him: Autopsy

The unarmed man accidentally shot to death last month by a volunteer sheriff's deputy in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had methamphetamine in his system when he died, according to an autopsy report released Tuesday.

Eric Harris was killed after running from Tulsa Sheriff's Office deputies who'd caught him in an April 2 gun-sale sting. The fatal shot came from Robert Bates, a 73-year-old retired insurance executive who moonlighted as a volunteer on a violent crimes task force.

Bates has said he thought he was grabbing for his Taser when he shot Harris. He has been charged with manslaughter, and has pleaded not guilty.

Harris suffered a fatal gunshot to his left armpit, with the bullet traveling through his body and ending up near his right armpit, the autopsy report showed.

The autopsy also diagnosed Harris with "acute intoxication by methamphetamine." He also suffered from cardiovascular disease and hypertension, according to the report.

Harris' death made Tulsa a flashpoint in a raging national debate over police use of force, and exposed the sheriff's office to criticism for allowing a non-officer to provide backup on a potentially violent police operation. Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz, a longtime friend of Bates', has said he was qualified for the posting, but the department was having trouble finding all the training records.

Bates told TODAY last month that accusations he wasn't properly trained and was allowed to "play cop" are "unbelievably unfair."

An internal report obtained by NBC News found that employees were asked to modify training records, a revelation that led Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler to call for a deeper investigation.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office has defended Bates, saying that officers chasing Harris had good reason to fear that he was armed.

They said Harris, a felon, had a history of violence against police officers and had placed his hand near his waistband during the chase.

KJRH
Harris, 44, was shot on April 2, when he was being arrested as part of an undercover gun-selling sting, Tulsa authorities said.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...ot-him-n357926

http://www.alipac.us/f19/dont-run-po...oversy-319457/