On August 3, 2007, five-year-old Austin Gabriel Haley was fishing with his grandfather in Noble, Oklahoma, when a stray bullet fired by a rookie police officer struck him in the head. Austin was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. The officer had been responding with a partner to a neighbor’s report of a snake in a birdhouse and fired two shots at the snake; one shot struck the child.

The officer was charged with second-degree manslaughter. A judge ultimately ordered 90 days of community service, a snake handling class, and revocation of the officer’s certification; the officer’s record was later expunged. Austin’s parents, Jack and Renee Haley, publicly forgave the officer, describing their faith as central to their decision after an emotional encounter outside the courthouse.

Does anyone have memories of the Noble community response at the time or additional details about the proceedings or sentencing?