Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby Hires Second Defense Attorney

Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby has hired Tulsa attorney Shannon McMurray to join the defense already provided by Attorney Scott Wood.

Shelby was charged September 22, 2016, with first-degree manslaughter in the September 16, 2016, shooting death of Terence Crutcher. 

McMurray said Shelby was justified in using her weapon and did not consider it lightly and that she's confident that will be confirmed by the ongoing investigation.

Shelby has not commented so far out of respect for the community's period to mourn Crutcher and the ongoing national conversation, the attorney said. 

"While this may seem straightforward to the public eye, there is a great deal of information to process. Only a portion of the incident was captured on camera, so there is much more to consider than what has been released for the public to see," McMurray said. "Officer Shelby was justified in discharging her weapon, and she did not consider it lightly. Mr. Wood and I are confident that this will be confirmed by the ongoing investigation."

McMurray said Shelby won't comment until the investigation is finished.

"Officer Shelby is a professional and does not wish to disrupt the Tulsa community while it processes Mr. Crutcher's death," McMurray said. "She is first and foremost a public servant, and she continues to trust in the system in which she serves."

She's scheduled to be arraigned September 30, 2016. 

Law enforcement officers are planning a gathering Tuesday to express their concerns about the investigation that led to Shelby's arrest. That will take place at Hunter Park from 2 to 6:30 p.m., and a press release says the group is encouraged to bring positive-themed signs.

A news release states they are gathering to show solidarity "as Tulsa County's district attorney rushes to judgment against one of our own, without benefit of a full and complete investigation."

Hunter Park is located on the south side of East 91st Street, between South Yale Avenue and South Sheridan Avenue.