Statue honors Noble boy killed by policeman's bullet

 
By Andrew Knittle, Staff Writer | Published: October 25, 2011    Comment on this article Leave a comment

NOBLE — A life-size statue of a 5-year-old boy who was killed by a stray bullet more than four years ago was unveiled Monday evening in this Cleveland County town.

photo - Clockwise from lower left, Renee Haley and Jack Haley, along with son Dalton Haley, 7, daughter Mikayla Haley, 6 months, and son Gabriel Haley, 3, gather around a life-sized statue of their deceased son and brother Austin Haley after the statue was unveiled at the Haley family's home in Noble, Okla., Monday, Oct. 24, 2011. Five-year-old Austin Haley was killed by a Noble police officer's stray bullet in August of 2007. Austin Haley would have been ten years-old on Oct. 24, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD
Clockwise from lower left, Renee Haley and Jack Haley, along with son Dalton Haley, 7, daughter Mikayla Haley, 6 months, and son Gabriel Haley, 3, gather around a life-sized statue of their deceased son and brother Austin Haley after the statue was unveiled at the Haley family's home in Noble, Okla., Monday, Oct. 24, 2011. Five-year-old Austin Haley was killed by a Noble police officer's stray bullet in August of 2007. Austin Haley would have been ten years-old on Oct. 24, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD

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Austin Haley Statue in Noble, Oklahoma Oct, 24, 2011

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‘The day the stachue came alive'

By Dalton Haley

Editor's note: Dalton Haley, who was with his older brother, Austin, when the shooting occurred, wrote this story about what might happen if the life-size statue of his brother came to life. Dalton was 3 the day his brother died. He's now 7 and the eldest living child of Jack and Renee Haley.

One day these people were putting up a statue of Austin, and surprise!!! I sat right beside him. When they were done, I hugged Austin. It felt like a golden ring going onto my hand. He looked like a handsome bubba, and I loved him very much. I was hugging it and hugging it and hugging it. My mama, Renee, was taking pictures ... when all of a sudden he came alive!

We played my Wii together first. He said, “Bubba, this is so much fun. Do you want to go play outside?”

I said, “Yeah, sure. Let's bring Gabriel and Mikayla. We'll jump on the trampoline and play on our swing set.”

Then, we went to go get a snack inside. We ate a chocolate chip cookie. After that, we went to play with my toys upstairs. Austin's favorite toy was Buzz Lightyear and Woody, too.

My favorite was Austin being with me. We went downstairs to read our Bible. He stayed with us forever and ever and ever. I gave him hugs and kisses and more hugs and kisses. I didn't stop. He gave me hugs and kisses over and over, too. He loves me more than I love him and that's impossible because I love him too much. It made me feel like I had treasure from Heaven. He never had to leave ... ever ... ever. So, we lived happily ever after.

Austin Haley was fishing at a family-owned pond with his little brother, grandfather and great-grandfather when he was accidentally shot by a Noble police officer. The officer was trying to get a snake out of birdhouse, firing two shots in the process.

“The first one went through my dad’s legs,” said Austin’s mother, Renee Haley. “About six seconds later, the other one hit Austin in the back of the head. He was killed instantly.”

Monday was Austin’s birthday.

The family’s eldest child would have been 10.

Austin’s father, Jack, said that time has done little to erase the pain.

“We think about him every day,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if there’s a statue there or not ... he’s still a part of our family.”

And Austin isn’t only thought of.

He’s spoken of, too.

“We talk about him so much that it’s like he’s still an active part of the family,” Renee Haley said. “My son Gabriel, who wasn’t even born when Austin died, feels like he knows him. One day, he said to me: ‘Momma, I miss Austin so bad.’”

The Haleys, who weren’t planning to have any more children back in August 2007, now have an additional son and daughter. Gabriel is 3 and Mikayla was born six months ago.

Dalton Haley, who was at the pond with his brother that day, is now 7.

“They’re both miracles,” Renee Haley said of her two youngest children. “Before Austin left us, I was headed toward a hysterectomy ... I wasn’t supposed to have any more children.”

Temporary showcase

Made of bronze, the statue in Austin’s likeness was commissioned and paid for by First State Bank of Noble. It temporarily will be showcased at the family’s home on Etowah Road until a final destination is secured.

“We just couldn’t believe that someone would want to do that for us,” Renee Haley said. “We’re glad to have it here for everyone to see.”

Family members gathered Monday at the family property in Noble for the unveiling and to release balloons in honor of Austin, something they do every year on his birthday. The balloons have a note inside and the Haleys say they’ve gotten a response from San Antonio.

“It’s something we do for Austin, to honor him and tell people why we are doing,” Renee Haley said. “So, to get a call from somebody in San Antonio was really great.”

No lawsuit

In a society where litigation and wrongful death lawsuits are commonplace, it’s almost odd to find out the Haleys never sued the Noble Police Department or the officers who were trying to get the snake out of the birdhouse for their roles in Austin’s death.

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