Terence Crutcher Family Demands Tulsa Officer Be Charged In Death

<p>The family of a Tulsa man who was shot and killed Friday night by a police officer is holding a news conference with their attorneys.</p>

Monday, September 19th 2016, 1:21 pm

By: News On 6


The family of a Tulsa man who was shot and killed Friday night by a police officer held a news conference Monday afternoon after viewing the video of Terence Crutcher's death.

Crutcher, 40, was killed Friday after police came across his car on 36th Street North near Lewis Avenue, according to TPD.

Police investigators said Crutcher refused several orders to show his hands and when he reached back into his car one officer deployed a Taser while another officer fired one shot.

9/19/2016 Related Story: US Attorney, City Leaders: Crutcher Shooting Will Be Properly, Thoroughly Investigated

The Crutcher family said they never thought their family would become the news. 

While they are calling for people to protest, they are very clear, they do not want any violence. 

They say they are a peaceful family and want that culture of peace to live on as people protest this shooting.

During Monday's meeting, several dozen family members filed into the Greenwood Cultural Center, leaning on one another.

The family saw the video of the shooting shortly after it happened and says at no point does is show any justification on why Crutcher needed to be shot.

Family members are also angry that officers were caught on camera saying Crutcher looked a 'big bad dude.'

His family wants to make sure his worth isn't reduced to that.

"You all want to know who that 'big bad dude was?' That 'big bad dude' was my big brother. That 'big bad dude' was a father, that 'big bad dude' was a son," said Crutcher's twin sister Tiffany Crutcher. 

Family attorneys said police and the city leaders' response and support has been great. 

They hope it continues. 

Crutcher said the shooting was incompetent and negligent, and she wants charges brought against the officer involved.

Family attorneys, Damario Solomon-Simmons and prominent civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, also spoke at the news conference held at the Greenwood Cultural Center.

Solomon-Simmons said they have viewed the video and have no doubt it was an unjustified shooting. He said numerous things police have said about the shooting are not true.

9/19/2016 Related Story: Tulsa Group Protests Police Shooting Of Terence Crutcher

Solomon-Simmons said they could not sleep after viewing the video Sunday - that police were not in danger, Crutcher did not have a weapon, and he made no threatening moves towards officers.

He also said Crutcher did not die at the hospital but "died on the street by himself in his own blood."

The family said they called the news conference to share their reaction to the video expected to be released at 1:30 p.m. and update the public on the next steps in the legal process.

The two officers were identified Sunday by TPD as Betty Shelby and Tyler Turnbough.

Katiera Winfrey was at the news conference. Follow her on Twitter: @KatieraWinfrey.

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