Family Honors Terence Crutcher’s Life With Candlelight Vigil 5 Years After His Death

It’s been five years since Terence Crutcher was killed by a former Tulsa police officer. A jury later found the officer not guilty.

Friends and family held a candlelight vigil Thursday night to mark the moment former Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby shot and killed Terence. 

They met at the 36th Street North Event Center, just down the road from where Terence was shot, at the age of 40.   

Folks lit candles and held a moment of silence before pastors prayed. Reverend Joey Crutcher said his son Terence was an easy-going, compassionate man who adored his kids and loved singing at church.  

He said the Crutcher family loves Tulsa and its police department but believes change is necessary. The Terence Crutcher Foundation pushed for people to sign a policy reform petition calling for policy reform and that the city invest in mental health resources within the public safety system. 

Police said Shelby shot and killed Terence, after he tried to reach back into his SUV, after several callers reported he was confronting people in the street while on drugs.  

Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter and a jury found her not guilty in 2017.  

The Crutcher family's wrongful death lawsuit against Shelby and the city, is still pending.  

"All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and who are called according to his purpose, and we feel that our family has been called according to God's purpose and we putting all this is God's hands,” said Rev. Joey Crutcher.  

Tulsa Police said they can’t comment because of the pending lawsuit.