The white Oklahoma police officer charged with manslaughter in the September killing of Terence Crutcher said race was not a factor in the shooting, NBC News reported.
Tulsa officer Betty Shelby spoke in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday, saying she fired at 40-year-old Crutcher, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting, "based on his actions, his behaviors. Race had nothing to do with my decision making."
Shelby added that she felt Crutcher wanted to "do me harm." She said she repeatedly shouted for him to stop when he moved closer to his vehicle and tried to reach into the driver's side door. The officer explained that's when she "took aim."
Crutcher's family has spoken about the Sept. 16 incident, saying physical and video evidence disputes the officer's account. The Tulsa County District Attorney's Office concluded Shelby "became too emotionally involved" in the situation and overreacted.
