A federal appeals court has ruled that the civil lawsuit against former Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby should not have been dismissed, allowing the case to move forward nearly a decade after the shooting of Terence Crutcher.
Crutcher’s estate sued Shelby after she shot and killed him during a 2016 encounter. She was later acquitted of manslaughter by a Tulsa County jury. A lower court had dismissed the civil case, citing qualified immunity, but the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision.
Shelby’s attorney, Scott Wood, said he is disappointed but not surprised by the ruling, noting the emotional toll the long‑running case has taken on both families.
Wood also pointed to the earlier criminal trial, saying jurors agreed that helicopter footage showed Crutcher reaching into his SUV — a key element of Shelby’s defense.
The lawsuit originally named both Shelby and the City of Tulsa. Both were dismissed, but only Shelby’s dismissal was overturned in this ruling.
Attorneys for Crutcher’s estate say they are encouraged by the decision and plan to pursue the case before a jury. They are scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday.
Shelby’s legal team says they intend to appeal.
