The Columbus, Ohio, police chief on Thursday advised the officer that shot and killed Andre Hill, a 47-year-old black man, was fired earlier this week.
Police Chief Thomas Quinlan said in a statement that after an expedited investigation, he had filed two charges of critical misconduct against Officer Adam Coy in Hill’s death. His recommendation for termination now goes to the city’s public security director; Monday there is a hearing.
Quinlan expressed his heartbreak that Hill cannot celebrate Christmas with his family and rejected any criticism that he might be passing judgment too soon.
“Like all of you, I witnessed his critical misconduct firsthand through his body-worn camera,” he said. “I’ve seen everything I need to come to the conclusion that Agent Coy should be fired immediately.”
The video showed Hill emerging from a garage and holding a cell phone in his left hand seconds before he was fatally shot by an officer identified as Coy on Tuesday.
About six seconds elapse between when Hill is visible in the video and when the officer fires his weapon. There is no sound because the officer did not activate the body camera; an automatic “review” function captured the recording without audio.
Coy was informed on Thursday of the allegations against him, said Quinlan, which come in an investigation into his unreasonable use of deadly force, failing to activate his body camera and not helping Hill after he was shot. Emails to the police union representing Columbus agents were not immediately returned.
The shooting advice came when public pressure arose in the case.
The eight Democratic state lawmakers in the area released a statement calling the murder “horrific,” moreso for following so closely the shot death of Casey Goodson Jr., 23, another black man, at the hands of a Franklin County sheriff. on December 4.
“It is clear that the seeds of mutual mistrust have been sown between this community and the police,” they said. “This mistrust stems not only from the deaths of Casey Goodson and Andre Hill, it has only grown with every incidence of violence. There must be transparency and accountability for the loss of life, as well as a commitment to change.”
Protesters also gathered in a cold drizzle on Christmas Eve to demand justice in Hill’s death.