A judge has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the city over the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a white officer because a similar suit is pending in federal court.
The Tulsa World reports that District Judge Mary Fitzgerald dismissed the lawsuit filed by the family of Terence Crutcher on Thursday. Attorneys for the city sought the dismissal, citing unnecessary costs and potentially conflicting rulings.
Crutcher was fatally shot in September 2016 by former Tulsa officer Betty Shelby, who was later acquitted of first-degree manslaughter in the killing.
Attorneys for the Crutcher family filed a federal lawsuit last June against the city, seeking at least $75,000 in damages and widespread reforms and increased transparency from the police department, including better training.