Quinton Chandler / StateImpact Oklahoma
The Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office charged an Oklahoma City police officer with manslaughter on Thursday for killing a Black man who had a history of mental illness.
On December 11, 2020, Oklahoma City police responded to complaints that 60-year-old Bennie Edwards was bothering customers outside a strip mall.
Detective Bryn Carter – an Oklahoma City homicide detective assigned to review the case – said in an affidavit that the first officer to arrive, Sgt. Keith Duroy, called for backup and specifically for a unit that carried a taser.
Police say Edwards had a knife and told Duroy to leave.