The family of Terence Crutcher claimed a “small victory” late Thursday after the Tulsa County district attorney charged police officer Betty Shelby with manslaughter in the first degree for killing the unarmed father of four.
“While we are pleased to learn that the officer who senselessly killed by my beloved twin brother will face criminal charges for her senseless act, we understand that nothing will bring him back,” said Terence’s sister, Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, during a press conference following the announcement.
But, she cautioned, “we know the history of these cases,” referring to the countless other incidents where police officers were let off after killing a black civilian. “We know she gets charged but we get no convictions.”
Crutcher said the family would be “vigilant” in following this case, and called for “transparency and accountability.”
“The chain breaks here,” Crutcher vowed. “We are gonna break the chains of injustice, the chains of police brutality. The chain breaks here right in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’m challenging everyone from all walks of life to join with us as we move forward.”
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