OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Several protesters who want Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater to reopen an investigation into the 2019 killing of a teenager by police were arrested after holding a sit-in outside Prater’s office.
Several dozen protesters marched from a downtown Oklahoma City park to the courthouse, where several demanded to meet with Prater and asked for his resignation.
Those conducting the sit-in were arrested on trespassing complaints after they refused to leave when the building closed at 5 p.m., said Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Charles Avery.
They want Prater to reopen his investigation into the April 2019 shooting death 17-year-old Isaiah Mark Lewis by police in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond. They also want Prater to drop charges against some protesters who were charged with various crimes during demonstrations in late May against police brutality and racism.
Prater in September cleared Edmond police officers Sgt. Milo Box and Officer Denton Scherman in Lewis’ killing. Lewis was shot after officers chased him into a home, attempted to subdue him with a stun gun and were assaulted by the teen, who was naked and unarmed at the time, authorities said.
Andrew Stroth, an attorney representing Lewis’ parents, has said the teen was experiencing a mental breakdown when the officers “unjustifiably” shot him.
Prater has said he would reopen the case if any new evidence is uncovered.
