Killing of Andre Hill
DateDecember 22, 2020 (2020-12-22)
LocationColumbus, Ohio
TypeShooting
ParticipantsAdam Coy
DeathsAndre Hill

On December 22, 2020, 47-year-old Andre Hill was shot and killed by Officer Adam Coy of the Columbus Division of Police in Columbus, Ohio. Coy had been called to the neighborhood in response to a non-emergency call from a neighbor who reportedly witnessed someone sit in an SUV and turn the car on and off. Hill was leaving a friend's house when Coy confronted and shot him. Hill was unarmed, and was holding a smartphone. Coy was fired from the Columbus Police less than a week later.[1][2]

The shooting was the second killing by police in Columbus in December 2020, following the shooting of Casey Goodson on December 4 by a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy.[3]

People involved

Andre Maurice Hill (also identified as Andre' Hill)[4][5] was a 47-year-old African American man. He had one daughter and a granddaughter. Hill was a supporter of Black Lives Matter (BLM) and was wearing a BLM shirt when he was killed.[6]

Adam Coy was a police officer in the Columbus Division of Police. Following the shooting, Coy was fired.[1][7] Coy had been an officer with CPD for 19 years.[8] During his career, 90 citizen complaints had been filed against Coy, and his police personnel file reflected a number of incidents, going back at least nine years, in which Coy had reacted inappropriately while under stress.[8] He had received "documented constructive counseling" for discourtesy toward citizens (such as swearing), irresponsible driving, smoking while on duty, and failure to use police-car microphones.[8]

In October 2012, the division, after an internal investigation and hearing, found that Coy had used excessive force after he slammed a suspected drunk driver's head four times against the hood of a police car, an incident captured on dashboard camera.[8] While the police chief and city public safety director recommended that Coy receive a 200-hour suspension, a grievance filed by the local Fraternal Order of Police resulted in the suspension being reduced to 160 hours.[8] The incident also resulted in the City of Columbus paying $54,000 in a settlement.[9]

Incident

Coy and another officer, who has been identified as Amy Detweiler, responded to a non-emergency call around 1:49 AM about a car repeatedly turning on and off near 1000 Oberlin Drive. It is unclear if this car had anything to do with Hill. Around the same time Coy and Detweiler arrived at the scene, Hill was leaving a friend's house while holding an illuminated smartphone in his left hand. Bodycam footage shows Coy and Hill walking toward each other. Coy shot Hill several times, as he yelled at him to show his hands.[10][11]

Hill was shot three times in the right leg and once in the chest.[11] Coy did not turn on his body-worn camera before the shooting, but the camera has a 60-second look-back feature that recorded the minute prior, including the shooting, with video but not audio. Hill was taken to OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead.[12]

After Hill was shot, several officers handcuffed him while he lay unresponsive on the ground.[13] Video recordings from Coy and others show that none of the multiple officers on the scene made an attempt to render first aid to Hill until ten minutes after he was shot.[13]

Investigation and termination

The Franklin County's coroner office determined that the manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.[11][14] The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigated the shooting.[15] On December 28, Coy was fired from the Columbus Division of Police, on the recommendations of Mayor Andrew Ginther and Police Chief Tom Quinlan.[10][13]

Criminal charges

On February 3, 2021, a Franklin County grand jury indicted Coy on charges of murder (one count), felonious assault (one count) and dereliction of duty (two counts).[5][13] The latter two charges are based on Coy's failure to activate his body camera and failing to alert Officer Detweiller that he believed Hill posed a threat.[13] At the request of the Franklin County Prosecutor, the Ohio Attorney General and his designees were appointed a special prosecutor to prosecute the case in lieu of local prosecutors.[13][16] On April 23, prosecutors filed an additional charge of reckless murder against Coy.[17]

Coy pleaded not guilty; the court set bond at $3 million.[13] His trial was initially scheduled for March 7, 2022,[18] but was postponed until November to allow Coy to recover from a recent hip replacement surgery.[19] The trial was delayed a second time on November 1 to allow the defence more time to prepare a rebuttal for the prosecution's expert witnesses.[20] The court scheduled the trial to begin on April 24, 2023, but it was delayed indefinitely on April 3 when Coy was diagnosed with cancer.[21]

Settlement

In May 2021, Columbus city officials agreed to pay a settlement of $10 million, to Mr. Hill's family. If approved by the City Council, this will be the largest settlement ever paid out by the city.[22] According to attorneys, it is also the "largest pretrial settlement in a police use-of-force case in state history".[23]

Vigils and demonstrations

A protest occurred on December 24 in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred. Demonstrators also protested the death of Casey Goodson, who was killed by police on December 4. Goodson was not killed by a Columbus Division of Police officer, but rather by a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy.[24][25]

Hill's family hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. Crump spoke at a vigil for Hill, as did Hill's daughter.[26] On December 26, a vigil for Hill was held at the Brentnell Community Center in North East Columbus. During the vigil, Benjamin Crump announced that an independent autopsy would be conducted on Hill.[27] On December 28, a vigil was held at a church in Northwest Columbus.[28]

"Andre's Law"

In February 2021, the Columbus City Council unanimously approved a new city ordinance ("Andre's Law"), requiring city police to turn on cameras during "enforcement actions" (including "all police stops, pursuits, uses of force, arrests, forced entries and any adversarial encounters") whenever they approach people or exit patrol cars. The ordinance also requires officers who use force that causes injuries to render first aid and call emergency medical personnel, unless there is an imminent threat to officers.[29] The law also requires officers to receive CPR and basic first aid training on an ongoing basis.[30] The ordinance provides that failure to turn on a camera or render first aid could result in departmental discipline or—if done with "reckless disregard"—criminal charges for dereliction of duty.[29]

In July 2021, State Representative Dontavius Jarrells introduced House Bill 367 to make the Law statewide.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Deliso, Meredith (December 28, 2020). "Columbus, Ohio officer who shot unarmed Black man fired as family demands justice". ABC 11. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  2. ^ Snyder, Alec; Nickeas, Peter; Terry Ellis, Nicquel (December 28, 2020). "The Columbus, Ohio, officer who killed Andre Hill has been fired". CNN. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  3. ^ Mansell, William (December 22, 2020). "Columbus, Ohio, police officer relieved of duty after fatal shooting of Black man". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  4. ^ Landers, Kevin (December 24, 2020). "Dozens protest in north Columbus neighborhood where Andre' Hill was fatally shot". 10 WBNS. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Former Columbus police officer Adam Coy indicted for murder in shooting of Andre' Hill". WBNS. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  6. ^ Narciso, Dean (December 26, 2020). "Family, friends and strangers support Andre' Hill, demand police reforms". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Farnoush, Amiri (December 28, 2020). "Ohio police officer fired in fatal shooting of Black man". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e Bethany Bruner, New documents show ex-Columbus officer Adam Coy had history of inappropriate reactions Archived April 22, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, The Columbus Dispatch (January 12, 2021).
  9. ^ Boggs, Justin (December 28, 2020). "Adam Coy, Ohio officer who fatally shot unarmed Andre Hill, fired by Columbus Police". ABC 7 Denver. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Albert, Victoria (December 28, 2020). "Ohio cop fired over fatal shooting of Andre Hill". CBS News. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Amir Vera and Rebekah Riess (March 26, 2021). "Forensic pathologist rules Andre Hill's death was a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds". CNN. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Bruner, Bethany (December 23, 2020). "Here's video and a timeline of the Andre Hill shooting by Columbus police". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Gabe Rosenberg, Bond Set At $3 Million For Fired Columbus Police Officer Who Killed Andre Hill Archived March 11, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, NPR (February 5, 2021).
  14. ^ Bowden, John (December 28, 2020). "Death of Andre Hill ruled homicide as police officer awaits employment ruling". The Hill. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "Coroner: Andre' Hill died from multiple gunshot wounds; death ruled a homicide". 10 WBNS. December 28, 2020. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  16. ^ Ohio attorney general is appointed special prosecutor in death of Andre Hill Archived February 16, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, WCMH (December 24, 2020).
  17. ^ Simko-Bednarski, Evan (April 23, 2021). "Additional reckless murder charge filed against officer in Andre Hill shooting". CNN. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  18. ^ Kovac, Marc (October 4, 2021). "March trial set for former Columbus officer facing murder charge in death of Andre Hill". The Columbus Dispatch.
  19. ^ Griffin, Daniel (February 9, 2022). "New trial date for officer in Andre Hill shooting". NBC4. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Laird, Jordan (November 1, 2022). "Murder trial of former Columbus cop Adam Coy in Andre Hill shooting postponed again". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  21. ^ Laird, Jordan (April 3, 2023). "Murder trial for ex-Columbus police officer Adam Coy postponed over cancer treatments". The Columbus Dispatch.
  22. ^ Morales, Christina (May 14, 2021). "Andre Hill's Family Reaches $10 Million Settlement With City of Columbus". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  23. ^ Sullivan, Becky (May 14, 2021). "City Of Columbus To Pay $10 Million In Settlement With Family Of Andre Hill". NPR.org. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  24. ^ "Protesters in Ohio call for justice in police killing of Andre Hill". Fox 2 Now. December 24, 2020. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  25. ^ Bosco, Tom (December 24, 2020). "Rally held in neighborhood where Columbus police officer shot and killed Andre' Hill". ABC 6. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  26. ^ Evans, Nick (December 26, 2020). "Attorney For Andre Hill's Family Questions Police Actions After Shooting". WOSU. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  27. ^ Wynn, Sarah (December 26, 2020). "Attorney for Andre' Hill's family calls for justice during press conference". KUTV. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  28. ^ Cheung, Karina (December 28, 2020). "Local faith leaders speak on death of Andre' Hill". WCMH. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  29. ^ a b Bill Bush, Deadly Columbus police encounters lead to 'Andre's Law,' $1.025 million settlement payment Archived May 6, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Columbis Dispatch (February 1, 2021).
  30. ^ "Police officers complete basic medical training after Andre's Law enactment". NBC4 WCMH-TV. July 9, 2021. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  31. ^ "Ohio lawmakers introduces 'Andre's Law' to require body cameras for all officers". 10tv.com. July 22, 2021. Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
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