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Ohio police officer fired for fatally shooting unarmed Black man

International Desk | banglanews24.com
Update: 2020-12-29 14:23:58
Ohio police officer fired for fatally shooting unarmed Black man A vigil is held for Andre' Hill at the Brentnell Community Recreation Center in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, Photo collected

A police officer in the US state of Ohio's Columbus city, who shot and killed an unarmed African-American Andre Hill, was fired on Monday, according to a statement from Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr.

Adam Coy's termination follows a disciplinary hearing held earlier in the day. The local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police represented him at the hearing.

"The information, evidence and representations made by Chief (Thomas) Quinlan as the investigator are, in my opinion, indisputable. His disciplinary recommendation is well-supported and appropriate," Pettus said. "The actions of Adam Coy do not live up to the oath of a Columbus Police officer, or the standards we, and the community, demand of our officers."

Coy fatally shot Hill, who was Black, last Tuesday within seconds of their encounter, as Hill walked toward Coy holding an illuminated cell phone in his left hand, body camera footage shows. Hill was unarmed.

Quinlan had recommended firing Coy. Quinlan said in a statement Monday the evidence against Coy provided "solid rationale" for termination.

"This is what accountability looks like," Quinlan said, adding that Coy will now have to answer to state investigators regarding Hill's death.

Coy didn't attend Monday's hearing but was represented by his union. His union representatives noted the city served Coy's attorney, who's on vacation, after 5:00 pm on Christmas Eve, before a holiday weekend, for a Monday morning hearing.

They wanted to preserve "all contractual and just-cause arguments" because the lawyer was not available.

Quinlan sought Coy's firing because he said Coy shot Hill and didn't activate his body-worn camera when he responded to the call or render aid after shooting Hill. Coy turned his camera on after the shooting, and the camera's look-back feature captured the 60 seconds prior to Coy turning it on.

"Known facts do not establish that this use of deadly force was objectively reasonable. You failed to de-escalate, and failed to render aid," Pettus wrote in his ruling.

Pettus said the actions of Coy and other officers who were at the scene will continue to be investigated and use of body-worn cameras and duty to render aid will be among actions under further review. Police have released only Coy's camera footage.

"Because of the potential for those cases to come before me, and to protect the integrity and impartiality of that process and any future ruling, it is not appropriate for me to comment further," Pettus said.

Mayor Andrew Ginther applauded the decision to fire Coy. Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation is also reviewing the case for potential criminal charges.

"Now we wait on the investigation of BCI, a presentation of the evidence to a grand jury and potential federal charges from the US Department of Justice. We expect transparency, accountability and justice. The family and the entire community deserve it," Ginther said.

Coy has not been charged.

Hill's family and attorney Ben Crump, in a statement, said it was "the correct decision" to fire Coy.

"We look forward to reviewing all the bodycam footage and determining everything that happened leading to Andre Hill's death," the statement read.

Source: CNN

BDST: 1420 HRS, DEC 29, 2020
AP

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