Father Of 17-Year-Old Girl Killed By Muskogee Police Invites Officers To Her Funeral, Extends Forgiveness

Muskogee's Police Chief said he and his officers have been invited to attend the funeral for the 17-year-old girl who was killed by police after they said she shot at officers Sunday.

Steven Rauch said he apologizes for his daughter Farrah putting officers in that position. He also said he forgives the officers who shot his daughter and wants those same officers at her funeral.

"I want to hug them, I want everybody else to hug them, they need it, we need it," Rauch told News on 6. He said he does not blame officers for shooting his 17-year old daughter Farrah. He said he knows they are in just as much pain as he is.

"I know they're hurting. They have to be hurting for what they had to do and that's what they have to do in a job. I want people to know they're loved," Rauch said. 

Rauch said Farrah struggled the past four years with her parents' divorce, cutting herself and using drugs. Investigators said Farrah and her boyfriend Joseph Dugan ran away from Blair, Nebraska.

They drove through Florida, Georgia, and Arkansas and had run-ins with law enforcement. Police said when the teens got to Muskogee Sunday, they tried stealing a truck and were chased by officers. They said Farrah shot at officers, who then shot and killed her. Investigators say Dugan shot and killed himself.

"I was honestly shocked when we got the invite," Chief Johnny Teehee said. 

He admitted he never expected Rauch to invite him and the four officers involved in the shooting to come and speak at Farrah's funeral.

"To me, it's something you have to rely on God to do. Obviously, there's a message that somebody in the family, or in that community, needs to hear, and God's needs me to be the messenger," Teehee said. 

"I feel like more people should be doing this," Rauch added, "I feel like Farrah has a message, this is how she can get her message."

Farrah's memorial is set for this coming Wednesday in Nebraska. Chief Teehee said he will also be a speaker at the service.