Oklahoma City, OK — The Oklahoma City Council is poised to decide on a sizeable settlement agreement related to the fatal police shooting of 15-year-old Stavian Rodriguez. If approved during Tuesday’s council meeting, the city would award $875,000 to Rodriguez’s mother, rounding off a contentious legal battle surrounding the tragic 2020 event.
The incident, which resulted in Rodriguez’s death, occurred during an attempted armed robbery at the Okie Gas & Express convenience store in Oklahoma City. According to police reports, Rodriguez was instructed to leave the store and emerged through a drive-thru window—the only exit not locked. Surveillance footage captured a harrowing scene where Rodriguez raised his hands, removed a gun from his waistband, dropped it, and subsequently moved his left hand behind his back. Police officers on site then opened fire, leading to his death.
The autopsy report declared that Rodriguez was hit by gunfire 13 times. A civil lawsuit filed by his mother, Cameo Holland, in 2021 through her legal representation, claimed that the police used excessive force, particularly as Rodriguez had already discarded his weapon. It also contended that Rodriguez received confusing commands from the officers, contributing to a chaotic and disorienting situation.
Legal defense for the involved officers, provided by the Fraternal Order of Police, staunchly defended their actions. These five officers faced first-degree manslaughter charges issued by then District Attorney David Prater. However, a dramatic pivot in the case came in July 2023 when current District Attorney Vicki Behenna dismissed these charges, a move Holland criticized as a systemic failure.
In a recent turn of commitments, Behenna announced that all subsequent fatal shootings by police would be reviewed by a grand jury, signaling a potentially new level of scrutiny for such cases.
Following the dismissal of charges, a statement from the Oklahoma City Police Department indicated that the implicated officers would return to active duty. The department highlighted that since the incident, it has intensified its focus on de-escalation techniques through reality-based training and expanded its arsenal of less-lethal weapons.
In response to queries about the settlement, a spokesperson for the city of Oklahoma City chose not to comment. Additionally, attempts to reach Holland’s attorney for feedback have yet to receive a response.
As this story evolves, it foregrounds ongoing national discussions about police procedures, legal accountability, and the mechanisms of justice in high-stakes law enforcement situations.
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