Oklahoma officers ruled justified in fatal shooting of man

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – An Oklahoma prosecutor says three Tahlequah police officers involved in the shooting death of a hammer-wielding man in August were justified in using deadly force.

Cherokee County First Assistant District Attorney Jack Thorp says in a letter obtained by the Tahlequah Daily Press on Wednesday that Lt. Brandon Vick and Officers Josh Girdner and Chase Reed acted “in accordance” with state law when they shot 49-year-old Dominic Rollice.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has said the officers were investigating a disturbance when they found Rollice and that he picked up a hammer. Police have released a video in which officers repeatedly tell Rollice to drop the hammer and each time he says no.

Rollice then moved his arm backward with the hammer in his hand and police opened fire.

___

Information from: Tahlequah Daily Press, http://www.tahlequahdaailypress.com

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.