Video of yet another police shooting of an unarmed black man sent the Internet into an uproar yesterday (Apr. 11). Eric Harris, a Tulsa, OK man, was fatally shot on Apr. 2 by 73-year-old Reserve Deputy Robert Bates during an arrest. Bates claims the shooting was an accident, and that he intended to taser Harris, according to the New York Daily News.
In the minute-long clip, the pursuit of Harris is captured on an officer’s bodycam, as the suspect – who was reportedly in his 40’s – attempted to flee from police on foot. Taken to the ground by an officer, Bates can be heard saying “Taser,” before a gunshot is released. Bates is then heard saying “I shot him, I’m sorry.”
SEE ALSO: South Carolina Officer Charged With Murder In Shooting Death of Black Man
The more disturbing portion of the video, however, comes after Harris suffers the gunshot wound. Screaming in apparent pain, Harris can be heard telling the officers “He shot me! He shot me, man. Oh, my god. I’m losing my breath,” to which he did not receive any aid.
“Fuck your breath. Shut the fuck up,” an officer can be heard replying to Harris’ pleas as he is held down by the neck. He was pronounced dead an hour later.
According to the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Harris was being taken into custody for selling a 9mm semiautomatic pistol and ammunition to undercover cops. Police on the scene claim they were unaware that Harris had been shot, though it is audibly declared multiple times in the released footage. Tulsa Police Sgt. Jim Clark remarked that Harris was “absolutely a threat when going down.”
Tulsa Sheriff’s Capt. Billy McKelvey said that police “would not investigate the death unless the sheriff’s office asked them to, and they have not asked us to.”
Watch the footage of Eric Harris’ tragic encounter in the video above. See reactions to the video below:
“F*ck your breath” to a dying man? One you “accidentally” killed? That’s a new level of cold blooded. Pure evil. #EricHarris
— Keri Hilson (@KeriHilson) April 12, 2015
Like, I’m still trying to process the #EricHarris video. To say “fuck your breath” as a man takes his last breath is just unbelievable. — deray mckesson (@deray) April 12, 2015
And look at how the media describe the #EricHarris killing. Y’all. pic.twitter.com/As9FZBFSCt
— deray mckesson (@deray) April 12, 2015
Now we’re letting reservists who donate money to the cops have a turn at executing people?! WTF is wrong with this country?!! #EricHarris — A?anda (@GrnEyedMandy) April 12, 2015
#EricHarris was cast as a drug & arms dealer and ex-convict. Until the video. Now he’s an “unfortunate victim” of 1 officer’s mistake.
— taylor j. campbell (@taysoup) April 12, 2015
Not even 8 hours after #WalterScott laid to rest video of another black man #EricHarris shot to death by police.
— Pnthrgrlgail (@Mama4Obama1) April 12, 2015