White US police officer charged with killing black man

NEW YORK

A while police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man in Oklahoma was charged Thursday, amid a rekindled debate of police brutality against blacks in the U.S.

"In the manner of the death of Terrence Crutcher, I determined that the filing of the felony crime of manslaughter in the first degree against Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby is warranted," Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler told reporters, adding that an arrest warrant has been issued for the officer.

Shelby, 42, killed Terence Crutcher, 40, after his SUV stopped in the middle of a two-lane roadway last week.

"We reviewed the facts of the allegations. It is our responsibility to determine if the filing of a criminal charge is justified under the law," Kunzweiler said.

Video shows Crutcher walking away from police with his arms raised. Shelby fired a single shot at the same time as another officer fired a stun gun. No gun was found on Crutcher or in his car.

Four days later, Keith Scott was shot dead by black officer Brentley Vinson in Charlotte, North Carolina, sparking ongoing protests in that city.

Convictions in police-involved fatal shootings are few and far between.

Last year, more than 900 people were killed by officers, according to a Washington Post database, and not a single officer was convicted.