Charges dropped against 7 Oklahoma police officers in fatal 2020 shootings

The new prosecutor in Oklahoma's largest county, District Attorney Vicki Behenna, has dropped criminal charges against seven police officers involved in three separate fatal shootings from 2020. Behenna stated that under Oklahoma law, the shootings were justified after hiring a use-of-force expert and conducting extensive reviews. The most high-profile case involved five officers charged with first-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy. The charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled. The decision has sparked controversy and calls for changes in the law, while the police department has implemented training and equipment changes since the incidents.