The White police officer who killed Terence Clutcher will be arrested and charged with murder. According to Associated Press, the Tulsa County District Attorney announced the charges following an investigation. It comes nearly one week after Shelby and several other officers approached Crutcher while he was on the side of the road next to his car.
A video proved that Crutcher, 40, had his hands raised when he was shot and killed by Tulsa police officer, Shelby. Crutcher, who was unarmed, kept his hands raised and leaned against a car before he was tasered by officer Tyler Turnbough and eventually killed by Shelby. Shortly before he was killed, an officer on the scene said, “he looks like a bad dude.” It was a case of racial profiling from the beginning.
Crutcher’s only crime was being a Black man who happened to cross paths with a racist and violent police officer. Shelby has a history of drug abuse and domestic violence.
In 2002, the wife of Shelby’s ex-husband called police and had a protective order against her due to threats and harassment. And in 1993, Shelby’s ex-boyfriend filed a restraining order against her after she damaged his car following a break-up. She also admitted to using drugs on her application to become a police officer.
It’s apparent that Shelby should have never been allowed to carry a gun due to her violent past. But it also sheds light on why more background checks and training should be performed before individuals are handed a gun and a badge.
The minimum sentence for first degree manslaughter is four years in prison in the state of Oklahoma.
