Shocking bodycam video shows a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, shooting an unarmed black man with a cell phone – opening fire just 10 seconds after meeting him.
Columbus police officer Adam Coy was dispatched around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday for a non-emergency call about a man who had idled a car and turned it on and off repeatedly in the Cranbrook neighborhood.
Shortly after the officers arrived, a black man, later identified as Andre Maurice Hill, 47, who had been in a garage, approached them on foot holding a phone in his left hand and his other hand not visible.
Images from Coy’s body camera then showed him opening fire on Hill just six seconds after Hill came into view.
No audio is available because Coy only activated his body camera after the shot, which only recorded video due to an automatic “review” feature.
Without audio, it is unclear whether Coy shouted commands to Hill.
Hill’s right hand is not visible in the footage, but authorities said no weapon has been recovered from the scene.
After being shot, Hill lay on the ground for several minutes without an officer on the scene offering assistance. He died less than an hour later in a nearby hospital.
In a statement, Police Chief Thomas Quinlan called it “a tragedy on many levels. Most importantly, a life has been lost. “
Quinlan said he has suspended Coy, a 17-year veteran, and requires him to surrender his weapon and shield pending an internal review and an investigation by state authorities.
Under his union contract, the officer is still being paid.
“In this case, the Chief of Police has immediately noted what he believes may be critical misconduct and is taking intervening action to relieve his duty until a disciplinary investigation can be completed,” said Glenn McEntyre, a Department of Public spokesman. Safety of the city. .
Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr. promised “a fair, impartial hearing” for Coy on Wednesday.
Mayor Andrew Ginther on Wednesday called for Coy to be rebooted from the force.
“After further investigation of the incident, today I call for the immediate termination of Coy … who has not adhered to two guidelines: do not turn on his body-worn camera and provide no assistance after the shooting and no assistance,” said Ginther.
Meanwhile, Hill’s family has hired nationally known civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them, the Columbus Dispatch said.
With pole wires