Tulsa Cop Charged in Shooting of Unarmed Black Man
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma prosecutor says arrangements are being made for the surrender of a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man on a Tulsa street.
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed a first-degree manslaughter charge today against officer Betty Shelby, who shot and killed 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16. Dashcam and aerial footage of the shooting and its aftermath showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air.
The footage does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the single shot that killed Crutcher. Her attorney has said Crutcher was not following police commands and that Shelby opened fire when the man began to reach into his SUV window.
Tulsa police say Crutcher did not have a gun on him or in his vehicle.
Meanwhile, Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett is commending police and prosecutors for their quick handling of the investigation into Crutcher's death.