The Tulsa County District Attorney's Office on Thursday filed a first-degree manslaughter charge against a Tulsa police officer in the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher last week.
District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed the charge against Officer Betty Shelby after reviewing dash cam video and helicopter video that captured the shooting, according to The Tulsa World.
The District Attorney's Office also reviewed 911 calls, witness interviews and other evidence.
"Officer Shelby, although now charged, is presumed to be innocent under the law until a judge or jury determines otherwise," Kunzweiler said in a statement.
If convicted, Shelby could face at least four years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to the news release, Shelby "reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation from a confrontation with Mr. Crutcher, who was not responding to verbal commands and was walking away from her with his hands held up, becoming emotionally involved to the point that she over reacted."
Shelby made statements that she feared for her life and was yelling at Crutcher for him to stop and get on his knees, though she believed it unlikely for him to be in possession of a firearm.
"Although Mr. Crutcher was wearing baggy clothes, Officer Shelby was not able to see any weapons or bulge indicating (a) weapon was present," according to the affidavit.
Mayor Dewey Bartlett said in a statement that the city will ensure justice is done.
"Our Tulsa Police Department worked quickly to provide all the information to the District Attorney," he said. "I appreciate their efforts as well as the District Attorney’s usual thorough evaluation of the rules of law for which we are all accountable. These are important steps to ensure that justice and accountability prevails."
