Monday, March 18, 2024

Tulsa Police Release Graphic Video Showing Terence Crutcher’s Hands Up Before Fatally Shot

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*An unarmed black man fatally shot by a white Tulsa, Oklahoma, police officer responding to a stalled vehicle last week can be seen in dashcam video walking toward his SUV with his hands up and officers following behind him before he’s shocked with a stun gun and then fatally shot.

Terence Crutcher had just left night classes at Tulsa Community College on Friday, Sept. 16. when his SUV broke down in the middle of the road. Officers Betty Shelby and Tyler Turnbough responded.

“As they approached the vehicle a black male started towards them,” Tulsa Police spokesperson Jeanne Mackenzie initially told KOTV. “They asked him to show his hands. He refused to follow commands given by the officers. They continued to talk to him. He continued not to listen, not follow any commands as they got closer to the vehicle he reached inside the vehicle and at that time there was a Taser deployment and then a short time later there was one shot fired.”

An eyewitness, however, told Tulsa news station Fox 23 that the police account is not true. She said that Crutcher had his hands in the air and was walking very slowly and carefully when he was shot and killed. Crutcher’s relatives say he was unarmed.

The shooting, captured on several dashboard cameras and released to the public Monday afternoon, clearly supports the witness’ account.

Shelby fired the fatal shot, while Turnbough used the stun gun on Crutcher, police said. Turnbough also is white. Shelby, who was placed on paid leave, was hired in December 2011, while Turnbough was hired in January 2009, police said.

Officer Betty Shelby and Officer Tyler Turnbough of the Tulsa Police Department
Officer Betty Shelby and Officer Tyler Turnbough of the Tulsa Police Department

In the dashcam videos released today, Crutcher is seen walking toward his SUV with his arms held in the air, as Shelby follows behind him with her gun drawn and Turnbough approaches with his Taser drawn. Crutcher, who has his back to the officers, appears to lean toward the SUV with Shelby at his side and Turnbough behind him. A single shot is heard and other officers run toward the SUV.

Crutcher collapses to the ground and Shelby yells into the radio, “Shots fired!”

Watch one of the dashcam videos below:

The Tulsa Police Department also released footage of the shooting from a police helicopter.

In the video, one of the pilots says, Crutcher, “looks like a bad dude … might be on something.”

Watch below:

The department released the following statement along with the videos:

“In an effort to collaborate and show transparency, Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan has elected to show video and audio in reference to the officer involved shooting that occurred on September 16th, 2016 resulting in the death of Terence Crutcher.”

Jordan and several officials said at a press conference Monday that “justice” will be found, and there will be no cover-up of what happened. Jordan and others said they could not comment extensively on the shooting or the video, citing the open case.

“Terrence died on that street by himself, in his own blood, without any help,” said Damario Solomon-Simmons, an attorney for Crutcher’s family. He called the video “extremely disturbing” and said family has no doubt it was an unjustified shooting.

Crutcher’s twin sister Tiffany said the shooting was incompetent and negligent, and she wants charges brought against the officer involved, reports CBS affiliate KOTV. Watch below:

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