Bennie Edwards was a 60-year-old man who experienced homelessness while living with Bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia. His niece said “he was in the streets because he loved it. He liked meeting new people. He loves people.” He was known by his community as a gentle soul who sold flowers throughout the city. Around noon on December 11, 2020, the police were called due to a “disturbance” in front of a business near Hefner and May Av. In NW OKC. The caller said Bennie was bothering customers. Neither mental health professionals or crisis intervention trained officers were called to the scene. When the first officer arrived he called backup because he said Bennie was armed with a knife. When the other two officers arrived they told him to drop the knife but he didn’t. The three officers tried to use pepper spray and tasers in efforts to subdue Bennie but neither were effective because he was so disoriented he began running from them. One officer yelled “Hey!” And fired three shots, Bennie continued running from the officers as three more shots were fired and killed him he was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was exposed and uncovered for two hours.

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