'Did He Have A Right To Shoot?': Expert Comments On Legality Of Officer-Involved Shooting At Choctaw Football Game

Investigators are searching for answers in the officer involved shooting at Friday night's Choctaw vs. Del City football game. News 9’s legal analyst, Irven Box, says the biggest question they will have to answer is: was there a clear and justifiable reason for the Del City officer to fire his weapon? 

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"There are a lot of moving pieces to this," Box said. 

Choctaw Police say an argument led up to a 16-year-old Cordae Carter being shot and killed and at some point during the chaos, an off duty Del City police officer working security for Mid-Del schools discharged his weapon. That shot hit a 42-year-old man. Carter's family says that man was trying to break up the fight. 

"Our investigation shows that a Del City officer did shoot a 42-year-old man in the chest," said Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson. 

But questions remain. 

"Is it a justifiable shooting? None of us know," said Box. 

The details leading up to the officer-involved shooting are still under investigation. 

"The officer perceived some sort of threat,” said Sheriff Johnson. “But, it is important to stress we are very early on in this investigation and can't comment further on what that officer perceived." 

Box says that's the exact question this investigation needs to answer. 

"Even though he was off duty, he is still a commissioned police officer of the Del City Police Department," Box said. 

He says the investigation will come down to a decision by the District Attorney. 

"They'll look at it, they'll review it, they'll get all the reports once it's done they'll decide, was it justifiable? Did he have a right to shoot? Was he threatened?” he said. "If they say he was, then it's over. If they say he wasn't, then there's a possibility of charges being filed against him." 

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office and Del City Police Department had no further comment today on the investigation, but we will bring you those updates when we have them. 

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office is requesting any photos or videos that could help in the investigation. They can be submitted here.