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By Joanna Putman
Police1
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — An Oklahoma deputy will not face charges over the death of a bystander who was nearby when an officer-involved shooting unfolded, KOKH reported.
Body camera footage of the Oct. 2023 pursuit and shooting have been released following the investigation. Video shows Cleveland County Deputy Sean Steadman attempted to stop Kameron Jenkins, according to the report.
Jenkins refused to pull over, leading Steadman to perform a tactical vehicle intervention, according to the report. Once Jenkins’ vehicle had come to a stop off of the roadway, Steadman stepped out of his patrol car. Video shows he was immediately shot in the neck.
Steadman falls to the ground and calls for help on his radio before standing up and firing several shots back at Jenkins.
Jenkins ran from the scene, leading to a week long manhunt before he was found dead among foliage close to the site of the shooting, according to the report.
One of the bullets fired by Steadman also traveled 300 yards and hit Gwuan Frierson in the face while he was driving down the interstate, according to the report. Frierson died from his injuries. District Attorney Melissa Handke reviewed the incident and found that Steadman was in no way at fault for the shooting of Frierson or Jenkins.
“There was no way this could have been foreseen and/or avoided,” Handke stated. “Had Steadman not returned fire, I have no doubt he would have been executed by Jenkins.”
Handke and the Cleveland County Sheriff’s office have both issued statements offering sympathy to Frierson’s family, according to the report.
“The loss of an innocent bystander’s life in this incident is truly heartbreaking,” the sheriff’s office stated. “The events of that day, which resulted in the death of an innocent individual and the severe injury of one of our detectives, were entirely avoidable. These tragic consequences were facilitated by Mr. Jenkins, who deliberately chose to open fire on a first responder.”
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