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gave to investigators after the shooting as harris resisted arrest bates told investigators he made a quick decision to use his taser. i remember thinking i have to deploy it rapidly as i still thought there was a strong possibility harris had a gun. bates says he meant to use his taser and he was startled and left in a state of shock and disbelief when he realized he used his gun instead. adding to the volatility here bates isn't a full fledged sheriff deputy. he's a certified volunteer peace officer. bates is also the ceo of an insurance company and has been a long-time benefactor of the tulsa sheriff's department. donating cars and video equipment. >> deputy bates met all the criteria on the council in law enforcement, education and training to be in the role he was in. >> reporter: but harris' family questions how bates could have confused his two weapons, a bright yellow taser and a small .357 revolver. >> your intended behavior slips off track and captured by
>> he shot him! he shot him! >> he shot me! >> i'm losing my breath. >> eric harris would later die at the hospital. the deadly shot fired by the reserve deputy, robert bates. and harris resisted arrest bates told investigators he made a quick decision to use the taser. i remember thinking i have to deploy it rapidly as i thought he might still have a gun. he realized he used his gun instead. adding to the volatility here bates is not a full-fledged sheriff's deputy and is a certified peace officer, and he has been a long-time benefactor