Developments in Terrence Crutcher's Death

On Friday night, Tulsa officer Betty Shelby shot and killed Terrence Crutcher. Despite video and helicopter footage, the exact circumstances are still up for debate. This article is her side of the story. Over the past few nights, there has been a lot of confusion as to what actually happened. In the original video, it looks like his car is broken down and he’s just walking around trying to fix it. In the video, you can hear two men discussing the situation and one says, “that looks like a bad dude too, could be on something.” Mind you at that point Crutcher was just walking around his car, with his hands up. As of about 3:30 pm today, Shelby has been charged with first-degree manslaughter. There is not much press or information about that ruling just yet. However I can automatically appreciate the quick decision, and that isn’t ending in another white officer on paid leave for killing another black man. Regardless of what happens, it’s interesting to see how Shelby and her lawyers paint the situation. 

I would argue that a gun should never be an officer's first line of defense. Crutcher was unarmed, a taser would have done the job. I’m aware of how biased I am, but her story seems very staged. I guess it wasn’t enough to convince a jury either. 

Here is a link to the video footage.

(there is visible blood, you see Crutcher fall down, and there are multiple visible guns and officers)