No charges recommended for officer-involved shooting at Choctaw football game
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Oklahoma County Grand Jury has recommended no charges for a Del City police officer accused of shooting a bystander at the Choctaw football game in August 2023.
Demetrize Carter was shot in the chest by an off-duty Del City officer who was working security during the Choctaw-Del City football game in August—the same football game where 16-year-old Cordea Carter was shot and killed.
After hearing testimony from 10 witnesses and reviewing 41 exhibits related to the incident, the panel determined a use-of-force expert was not necessary for the grand jury’s deliberation, according to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office.
The panel then concluded that the officer should not be charged following deliberations.
The Fraternal Order of Police attorney representing the officer told News 4 last fall the officer shot carter because Carter had something that looked like a weapon in his hands.
“Which they believed to be a gun – or something – black in his hand coming up,” Fraternal Order of Police attorney Gary James told News 4 last year. “There were commands being given ‘drop the gun, drop the gun.’”
But Carter’s lawyer said Carter did not have a gun, and his hands were up.
“We have multiple witness statements that will testify that Mr. Carter did have his hands up,” Carter’s lawyer, Billy Clark, told News 4 last year. “He was unarmed, and he was in fear of his life from these officers”
Clark said he was upset to hear the grand jury did not recommend charges.
“I’m really disappointed,” Clark said. “And Mr. Demetrize Carter is disappointed in the fact that the grand jury obviously got this wrong.”
The Del City Police Department sent out a statement, saying in part, “while this grand jury decision has been released, there is still an active and ongoing investigation related to the incident and all related evidence, including body cam footage, remains sealed by court order from the Oklahoma County District Attorney.”
Despite that, the officer’s attorney told News 4 last fall he was allowed to see the body camera footage.
“I have reviewed the body camera video,” James told News 4 last year.
Carter’s attorney says he has repeatedly asked for the footage, but never gotten it.
“There’s absolutely no reason not to release it,” Clark said.
News 4 reached out to Oklahoma County DA Vicky Behenna’s office on Thursday, asking if they could share the video. Her office did not respond.
Clark says he plans to file a civil suit.
“We’re still going to get justice,” Clark said. “We still intend to file criminal case, a lawsuit against Del City, against the particular officer.”
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