Outrage After Betty Shelby Found Not Guilty for Fatally Shooting Terence Crutcher
Hours after being sent to deliberate, a Tulsa jury found former officer Betty Shelby not guilty for the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher. The Wednesday verdict devastated Crutcher's family, who spoke to reporters outside the courtroom. The verdict also outraged the public, which believes the justice system is indefinitely broken.
On September 16, Shelby — who is a white female — responded to Crutcher when his car stalled in the middle of the road. During their interaction, Shelby called for backup units to respond. Other officers as well as a helicopter with a camera arrived on the scene.
At one point, Crutcher began walking with his hands in the air and his back turned to Shelby. It was at this time that many feel the officer acted out of fear and shot Crutcher.
"Prosecutors said Shelby acted out of fear when she shot Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16," KWGS reported. "Crutcher walked away from Shelby with his hands up instead of following orders to stop and get on the ground. Shelby's attorneys argued she believed Crutcher was going to get a gun and she had to stop that threat."
According to the Associated Press, at least four of the 12 jurors were in tears upon leaving the courtroom. The jury was comprised or eight women and four men — three of the jurors were African-Americans.
Upon leaving the courtroom, Tiffany Crutcher – Terence's twin – told reporters Shelby got away with murder
After the verdict was announced, people on Twitter expressed outrage and frustration
- advertisement
