Betty Shelby, the officer Tulsa Police Department who shot and killed Terence Crutcher, is being charged with first-degree murder in the case, said the District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler Tulsa County.
Kunzweiler loading announced Thursday afternoon, six days after Crutcher died in a controversial encounter that was captured on video by a camera and cameras dashboard police helicopter.
“A warrant has been issued for his arrest” and are making arrangements with the attorney for the surrender Shelby Shelby, Kunzweiler said in announcing the felony charge (see video from local television news KJRH). He said he had instructed his staff to file charges against Shelby at the beginning of the brief press conference today.
Shelby will be arrested by the Sheriff’s Department Tulsa County, Kunzweiler said.
Saying Crutcher’s death “was in the hearts and minds of many people in this community,” Kunzweiler praised the residents of Tulsa, saying the community “has consistently demonstrated a willingness to respect the judicial process.”
This is how we have described the case earlier this week:
“Crutcher, who was black, died next to his SUV that had stopped in the middle of a two-lane road in Tulsa, Okla. Seconds before he was shot, police dashcam and helicopter footage shows, he had walked to his car with his hands held over his head as Officer Betty Shelby walked behind him, her gun raised.
“Shelby, who is white, was one of four police officers who were standing at the rear bumper of Crutcher’s car as he stood next to his vehicle around 7:45 p.m. Friday. She’s also the officer who shot him once, in the upper body — and who then radioed, “Shots fired.” Police say another officer used his Taser on Crutcher at nearly the same time he was shot.”
When the Tulsa Police Department released police videos of the moments around Crutcher’s death, Chief Chuck Jordan said the footage was “very disturbing; it’s very difficult to watch.”
We will publish one of those videos, with the warning that the contents are graphic.
As the case attracted national interest, attorney Shelby, Scott Wood, told the Tulsa World that the officer, who at 42 is a veteran of nearly five years of the police force Tulsa, create Crutcher going to get something inside your car.
Chief Jordan dismissed the idea that Crutcher had a gun, saying, “I’ll tell you here and now. There was no gun in the suspect or the suspect’s vehicle”
Noting that he had communicated with the US Attorney’s Office on the case immediately after the shooting, Jordan added, “We will achieve justice in this case.”
Shortly after the announcement murder charge against Shelby, said the Tulsa Police Department on his Facebook page that “several demonstrations” were held in the city. He added that “no credible information” to suggest that any of the meetings, protests, rallies or no peace.
The US Department of Justice It is conducting a civil rights investigation into the death of Crutcher.
