Prosecutor clears Oklahoma trooper in fatal shooting of man

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A prosecutor has cleared an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper in the fatal shooting of a man during a traffic stop. Craig County District Attorney Matthew Ballard says in a letter to the state Department of Public Safety that Trooper Caleb Cole acted appropriately and was justified in shooting Robert Harris on June 25th during the stop on Interstate 44 near Vinita.

Ballard said Harris ignored Cole’s orders by sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle and reaching behind himself with his hands. Ballard said Harris was shot when he brought his hands forward with what appeared to be gun and that a handgun was found in the car after the shooting.