Female cop who shot dead unarmed black man charged with first degree manslaughter

Prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have filed charges against he white female police officer, Betty Shelby, who shot and killed unarmed black man, 40-year-old Terence Crutcher who had his hands up on September 16. She has been charged with first-degree manslaughter.


Dashcam and aerial footage of the shooting showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms up in the air. The Tulsa County District Attorney’s office said Officer Shelby ‘reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation’ by ‘becoming emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted.’

Crutcher’s twin sister, Tiffany, spoke to reporters outside of the Tulsa County Courthouse on Thursday and said that the family is happy Shelby has been charged.

She said that they hope the district attorney prosecutes the case and hopefully obtains a conviction. Adding that she hopes a criminal conviction will help bring an end to the killing of innocent citizens by police.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin also said that she hopes a first-degree manslaughter charge against Shelby provides some peace to the Crutcher family and to the people of Tulsa.



Urging Tulsa residents to be patient as the case works its way through the justice system. She also added that Shelby is innocent until proven guilty.

A warrant has been issued for her arrest and arrangements are now being made for her to surrender. If convicted, she faces between fours years and the maximum sentence of life in prison.