The fatal shooting of a Blair teen by police in Oklahoma was justified, according to the Muskogee County District Attorney.
The Muskogee Phoenix reported District Attorney Orvil Loge has decided not to file any charges against the four officers involved in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Farrah Rauch.
“Officers James Folsom, Shawn Brown, Benjamin Hudson and Evan Hendricks acted within the scope of their course of employment with the Muskogee Police Department,” Loge wrote in a letter to Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee.
The four officers were placed on administrative leave until a decision was made about the Feb. 28 incident.
Police shot and killed Rauch following a pursuit in which she fired a weapon at officers.
Police received a 911 call about an attempted carjacking and a second call about the theft of a truck. A few minutes after the second call, Hendricks spotted the truck pulled over on the side of the road.
Rauch and her boyfriend, 17-year-old Joseph Dugan, drove off and a high-speed pursuit began on U.S. 69 north of Muskogee just past the Arkansas River. The chase took several turns before the teens abandoned the truck near the intersection of North 17th and Lenapah streets.
The pair then tried to run from police. Hendricks pursued Rauch, before being joined by Hudson. An exchange of gunfire followed, which resulted in Rauch's death.
Dugan headed in the opposite direction and into a heavily-wooded area. He was pursued by other officers and followed by a Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service drone. Dugan eventually took his own life.
Elizabeth Ridenour of the Muskogee Phoenix contributed to this article.
