On Friday Sept. 16, 2016, Terence Crutcher, a black 40-year-old loving father of four, was shot and killed by Officer Betty Shelby in Tulsa, Oklahoma, upon having a stalled vehicle blocking traffic in the middle of the road.
Officer Shelby justified her actions by claiming that she believed he armed himself when he reached into the driver’s side window of the vehicle. However, upon investigation, it was found that the windows of the car were rolled up, covered with blood smears. There was no weapon found on or near Crutcher’s body or vehicle.
Car can’t even break down while bein black. Another innocent black life stolen smh. Rest in peace #TerranceCrutcher pic.twitter.com/2ZEwB8c7ws
— 7 GOD (@iiBreakNecks) September 20, 2016
“This was an unjustified killing. The position of the family is resolute on this matter,” said the Crutcher family attorney, Benjamin Crump. “You all see him walking with his hands up. He is walking slowly. He is not threatening anyone. It’s daylight. They had several officers on the scene and they could have easily, easily resolved this matter with less than lethal force.”
Crutcher was tased by Officer Tyler Turnbough and then shot in the lungs by Officer Shelby upon approaching the officers on scene. This incident occurred just two days after a black 13-year-old boy, Tyree King, was shot and killed by police in Columbus, Ohio, after pulling out a BB gun from his waistband.
