Death by Cop 2022-2024
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Bennie Edwards
Gender : Male
Age : 60
Race : Black
Date : 12/11/2020
Location : Pennsylvania Avenue
City : Oklahoma City
County : Oklahoma
State : Oklahoma
Agency : Oklahoma City Police Department
Officer(s) :Sgt. Clifford Holman
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during disturbance call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Oklahoma City PD responded to a call about Edwards, a 60-year-old unhoused man, allegedly "bothering customers" at a strip mall. Police arrived and fired a Taser before fatally shooting him on December 11, 2021, after he allegedly charged at an officer with a knife and later fled.
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There are differing accounts of the exact sequence of events. The police report that Edwards had a knife and approached them in an aggressive manner, leading to the use of force. Evidence suggests that he had his back turned when Sergeant Clifford Holman fired the fatal shots. Holman was one of 3 officers who fired shots at Edwards while he was fleeing, striking him in the back. The autopsy later confirmed that Edwards was hit by four bullets, with two of them in the abdomen and one in the chest, as well as grazing wounds on the arm and thigh. Autopsy to compare the differing claims is not available.
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There are significant questions regarding the use of force in this situation, especially considering that Edwards was running away at the time of the shooting, which led to the manslaughter charge against Sergeant Holman. The police officers had used a Taser and OC (pepper) spray and deadly force. Some of the controversy surrounds the use of the knife and whether it posed a real threat, especially since Edwards was not facing the officers when he was shot.
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OFFICER CHARGED
Oklahoma City Police Sergeant Clifford Holman was charged with first-degree manslaughter on February 26, 2021, for the December 11, 2020mshooting.The charges stemmed from allegations that Holman used unnecessary lethal force when he shot Edwards as Edwards ran away holding a knife.
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LAWSUIT/SETTLEMENT
On November 21, 2023, the Oklahoma City Council approved a $1.05 million settlement for the family of Bennie Edwards.
OFFICER CLEARED AND REINSTATED
Holman remained on paid administrative leave following the charge. He was later acquitted on October 18, 2023, after a jury found him not guilty.
Officer Clifford Holman who fired the shots, was charged with manslaughter but had charges dismissed in 2023. Holman was reinstated to police work after being cleared.
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UPDATE: 11/23/2024
SOURCE LINKS :
Officers cleared:
Family Wins Settlement:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/family-okc-man-killed-officer-225248228.html
