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Tulsa officer is charged with manslaughter in fatal shooting

In this image from video provided September 20, 2016 by the Tulsa Police Department in Tulsa, Oklahoma shows the officer involved shooting of Terence Crutcher.

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Betty Shelby, a five-year veteran of the force, has been charged with first-dgree manslaughter.

Officer Betty Shelby repeatedly told Crutcher to keep his hands out of his pockets and stop walking back to his auto, according to court papers filed yesterday in Tulsa County Court.

Officer Betty Shelby of Tulsa County is the prime suspect of the shooting.

CNN reached out to Scott Wood, the attorney for Shelby, but has not received a response.

Tulsa police did not find a gun on Crutcher or in his vehicle. “Make no mistake, it was clear from the beginning that charges were necessary in this case”.

You can watch the video above to see all the comments from Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler about the charges and the case.

Mr Campbell also said Mr Crutcher had been mumbling to himself and the police officer had made statements after the shooting that she had been “in fear of her life” during the confrontation. Crutcher failed to comply with officers orders as they approached him, she added.

Ms Shelby faces a minimum of four years in prison. Her attorney told local media she is receiving death threats. “We’re going to break the chains of injustice”.

“We’re demanding full prosecution”, said Crutcher’s twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher. “We know the history”.

Crutcher’s family scheduled a news conference for later Thursday. Police did find a vial of PCP in his auto and Shelby’s attorney claimed she thought Crutcher was high on the drug when she shot him. The man warned that it was going to blow up, the caller said.

Following the shooting, Shelby’s attorney told The New York Times that she thought Crutcher had a gun, and that he “acted erratically, refused to comply with several orders, tried to put his hand in his pocket and reached inside his vehicle window” before she shot him.

She was actually on her way to another call when she encountered Terence.

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She stopped behind his vehicle, which was a block away. Officer Turnbough then arrives and after Crutcher he reached in the driver’s side front window of his vehicle, he fired his Taser and Shelby fired one shot striking Crutcher in the lung, according to the affidavit.

Tulsa DA: Officer Betty Shelby charged with first-degree manslaughter