Police Officers Fired Over Accidental Shooting

NOBLE, Okla. (AP) -- Noble City Manager Bob Wade says he has fired three police officers for their roles in an accidental shooting that killed a 5-year-old boy.<br/><br/>Wade said Monday he fired officers

Tuesday, October 9th 2007, 2:08 pm

By: News On 6

NOBLE, Okla. (AP) -- Noble City Manager Bob Wade says he has fired three police officers for their roles in an accidental shooting that killed a 5-year-old boy.

Wade said Monday he fired officers Paul Bradley Rogers, Robert Shawn Richardson and Michele Key in connection with the August 3 shooting.

The three officers responded to a report of a snake caught in a birdhouse behind a home in a residential neighborhood. An investigation revealed Rogers, who was in training, fired two shots from his .357-caliber handgun, and one of the bullets struck Austin Gabriel Haley in the head. Haley was standing on a fishing dock at a pond in a wooded area near the house.

Rogers and Richardson, who was Rogers' supervising officer, both are facing a charge of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the shooting.

Last week, Wade also fired Noble Police Chief Ben Daves.

An attorney for Rogers says he believes there was no just cause for the firing, but that his client has not decided whether to appeal it.

Related Stories:

8/4/2007 Noble Boy Killed By Stray Bullet

8/5/2007 5-Year-Old's Death Under Investigation

8/6/2007 Three Police Officers On Leave After Child Shot

9/7/2007 Charges Planned In Officer-Involved Shooting