Cop shot unarmed black man within 10 seconds of encounter, bodycam video shows
Shocking bodycam video shows a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, gunning down an unarmed black man holding a cellphone — opening fire within just 10 seconds of encountering him.
Columbus police officer Adam Coy was dispatched around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday to a non-emergency call about a man who had been idling a car, repeatedly turning it on and off in the Cranbrook neighborhood.
Shortly after the officers arrived, a black man later identified as Andre Maurice Hill, 47, who had been inside a garage, approached them on foot while holding a phone in his left hand and his other hand not visible.
Footage from Coy’s body camera then showed him opening fire on Hill, just six seconds after Hill entered the frame.
No audio is available since Coy did not activate his body camera until after the shooting, which only captured video due to an automatic “look back” feature.
Without audio, it’s unclear whether Coy yelled any commands at Hill.
Hill’s right hand isn’t visible in the footage, but authorities said no weapon was recovered from the scene.
After being shot, Hill lay on the ground for several minutes without any officer on the scene providing aid. He died less than an hour later at 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, requiring him to turn in his gun and shield pending an internal review and an investigation by state authorities.
According to his union contract, the officer will still be paid.
“In this case the chief of police directly observed what he believes to be potential critical misconduct and is taking an intervening action of relief of duty until a disciplinary investigation can be completed,” said Glenn McEntyre, a spokeman for the city’s Department of Public Safety.
Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr. on Wednesday promised “a fair, impartial hearing” for Coy.
Mayor Andrew Ginther on Wednesday called for Coy to be booted from the force.
“After further review of the incident, today, I’m calling for the immediate termination of Coy … who failed on two directives: not turning on his body-worn camera, and failure to offer aid after the shooting and not rendering aid,” Ginther said.
Meanwhile, Hill’s family has hired nationally known civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/12/24/cop-shot-unarmed-black-man-within-10-seconds-of-encounter-video/
Photo Credit: City of Columbus