Shocking video shows moment white female police officer shot dead an unarmed black pastor with hands in air

US: Police chief has released a horrific video footage showing the moment a white female police officer shot and killed an unarmed black pastor who was walking towards his SUV parked at the centre of the road with his hands up in the air, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Friday last week, a video he described as "difficult to watch."

Pastor Terence Crutcher, 40, was first tasered by another cop before being fatally shot on the scene by officer Betty Shelby who was following behind him and was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Police chief Chuck Jones assured residents that justice would be served, in an attempt to pacify growing anger in the community.

Before releasing the video on Monday, Jones said;

“I’m going to tell you right now, there was no gun on the suspect or in the suspect’s vehicle

“I want to assure our community and I want to assure all of you and people across the nation watching this: We will achieve justice” adding that he found the video “very disturbing, very difficult to watch.”

The police were responding to a report of a stalled vehicle in the middle of the road and initially claim that Crutcher had refused their command to raise his hands before reaching inside the vehicle. 

But footage shot from from a police car as well as a police helicopter show Crutcher approaches the SUV with his hands up in the air when he was spoken to by cops and at one point a policeman is heard saying he had his hands in the air.

"He's got his hands up there for her now," an officer could be heard in the video from the helicopter as it hovered above.

"Time for a Taser, I think," another officer said as the four officers pointed their guns toward Cutcher from a few feet away.

"I've got a feeling that's about to happen," the first officer said.

As more officers walk up, Crutcher then appears to lower his hands and reach down and place them on the vehicle. It appears one of his hands then drops down towards his stomach.

"That looks like a bad dude, too," the other officer said.

 Crutcher can then be seen dropping to the ground moments later.

"Shots fired," We have one suspect down” a woman's voice said.

Shelby has been placed on paid administrative leave and is now under investigation.

Betty Shelby

Family members and community leaders said the footage clearly shows Crutcher's hands were in the air when he was shot.

“We saw that Terence did not have any weapon,”said the family’s attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons.

“Terence did not make any sudden movements. We saw that Terence was not being belligerent.”

Crutcher’s family is calling for a federal investigation in to the murder and criminal charges against the Shelby.

Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher said that her is family is devastated over his death and that the public needs to know that he was a loving father and son who sang in church every week.

Pastor Terence Crutcher with his twin Tiffany

Tiffany said the family is asking for a “peaceful protests” over Terence Crutcher’s death.

Protesters are now calling for the immediate arrest of the killer cop.

Organizer of  We the People of Oklahoma, Marq Lewis called for the “immediate” arrest of Officer Shelby.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma is also calling for criminal charges against Shelby saying Crutcher was left to bleed to death while officers stood by without offering aid.

ACLU of Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel says Crutcher’s death shows “how little regard” Tulsa police officers have for minority communities.

US Attorney Danny C. Williams said the Department of Justice will carry out a separate civil rights investigation into the killing.

“The Justice Department is committed to investigating allegations of force by law enforcement officers and will devote whatever resources are necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are fully and completely investigated,” he said.

Crutcher's death is the latest in series of fatal shootings of black men by cops that have led to racial tensions across the US.