The Tulsa police officer accused of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man took a roundabout path toward her dream job of joining law enforcement, with stops as a convenience store clerk, an Air National Guard member and a teaching assistant.
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“But it’s interesting to note that while Shelby was charged, the male officers responsible for also fatally shooting unarmed black men predominantly weren’t”.
Video shows Crutcher walking away from Ofc.
However, several dozen protesters who tried to block a motorway were pushed back by riot police.
His decision to use a stun gun would underline the point that he calculated the situation wasn’t as ominous as Shelby described and that it called for the use of less-than-lethal force.
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler has charged Shelby with “first-degree manslaughter-heat of passion” in the killing of Terence Crutcher, 40, who was approached by police September 16 as he stood in the middle of a road with a auto that appeared to have stalled. Later, police said they uncovered PCP in his auto, which coincides with Shelby’s suspicions. She was booked in the Tulsa County jail at 1:11 a.m. Friday and released 20 minutes later after posting $50,000 bond, according to jail records. If convicted, Shelby would face anywhere from four years to life in prison.
Tulsa cop, Betty Shelby, who faces first degree manslaughter charges in the death of Terence Crutcher has a past involving drugs and domestic disturbances.
That’s when, according to the affidavit, Crutcher reached into the driver’s side front window, and the officer fired his Taser and Shelby fired her weapon, striking Crutcher. Shelby was placed on administrative leave and was later charged with manslaughter.
The document indicates that Shelby walked around the vehicle or cleared it, making sure there were no weapons inside that could pose harm to her, Crutcher family attorney Melvin Hall said during a press conference on Wednesday. Shelby’s attorney has said that Shelby completed drug-recognition expert training and thought Crutcher was acting like he might be under the influence of PCP.
President Barack Obama says recent reports of unarmed African Americans being shot by police “should be a source of concern for all Americans”. In audio files released by the department, someone in the helicopter can be heard saying Crutcher “looks like a bad dude, too”.
Shelby told homicide investigators that “she was in fear for her life and thought Mr. Crutcher was going to kill her”. She says a student in a group of 13- and 14-year-olds said other police shootings were quickly forgotten, but this one feels “real” because it happened “so close to home”. However, his windows appeared to be rolled up and no weapon was found in his vehicle. Shelby did not activate her dashboard camera when she first came across Crutcher and his SUV. Crutcher raised his hands in the air and began walking slowly towards the vehicle.
The officers surround Crutcher and he suddenly drops to the ground.
A community college in Tulsa plans a remembrance ceremony to honor a 40-year-old man who was fatally shot by a police officer last week.
Crutcher’s twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, said the family is gratified about the charges but watchful because, she said, many similar cases wind up with no convictions.
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“I am convinced that if you can put yourself in the shoes of a child of colour in Tulsa right now, you will have a clearer understanding of the crisis we’re facing and why we say black lives matter”, she wrote.
