Terence Crutcher: Police officer charged with first degree manslaughter in shooting death of unarmed black man

An arrest warrant has been issued for Tulsa Officer Betty Shelby

(Sue OgrockiAP)

One week after the fatal police shooting of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, the Tulsa County District Attorney has announced first-degree manslaughter charges against Tulsa Officer Betty Shelby.

Officials issued a warrant for Ms Shelby’s arrest on Wednesday and said that they have contacted her lawyer about her surrender.

Video released by law enforcement on Monday shows police officers in Oklahoma fatally shooting an unarmed black man whose car was stalled in the middle of the street. He appeared to have his arms raised when the single, fatal shot was fired.

“I don’t know why things happen in this world the way they do,” Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler told reporters on Wednesday. “We need to pray for wisdom and guidance on each of our respective paths in life. Each of us at the end of our days will have to account for our own actions. The only way I know to walk my path is to try every day to pray and to serve my fellow citizens so that he or she may be lifted up.”

In the officer's dash cam video, Mr Crutcher can be seen raising his arms in the air in the middle of the street. He stood beside his driver’s side window as several police officers followed close behind him with their weapons drawn. Officer Shelby called for backup and waited 30 seconds before discharging her weapon.

Mr Crutcher then appears to fall and his bloodied body lies limp beside his vehicle. Officers appeared to wait more than one minute before approaching Mr Crutcher’s body.

It remains unclear exactly why the officer fired her weapon.

After the charges were announced on Thursday, Mr Crutcher's family expressed gratitude toward the prosecutor.

“Today, we are thankful to TPD. We are thankful to [police] Chief [Chuck] Jordan for providing information to the District Attorney's office, and we are happy that charges were brought,” attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons told reporters.