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The unarmed 47-year-old black man killed by a Columbus officer early on Tuesday lay on the ground for several minutes without anyone providing him with medical aid or assistance – a violation of the policy and procedure of the police – Body camera footage from the murderous encounter released on Wednesday.
André Maurice Hill was a guest of the owner and had committed no crime when two officers approached the garage in which he was standing at around 1:30 a.m.
The video shows Columbus agent Adam Coy using his flashlight as he walks up the aisle. Hill then walks over to the officers, holding his cell phone as the officer fires his gun. Hill’s other hand couldn’t be seen clearly.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther on Wednesday afternoon called for the dismissal of Coy, a 19-year veteran of the force.
“He was an expected guest. He was not an intruder, ”the mayor said of Hill at a press conference. “It’s just an inexplicable loss. None of the officers initially present at the scene provided medical assistance, no compression on the wounds to stop the bleeding, no attempt at CPR, not even a hand on the shoulder or a word of encouragement indicating that doctors were on their way. It is the duty of an officer to help.
Upon arrival, the two officers also did not activate their body-worn cameras immediately after the shooting, which was another violation of police protocol, the mayor said. Due to a 60 second “roll back” function, the shot was captured without sound.
As this was not an emergency call, the traffic lights and sirens did not activate when the officers arrived. As a result, the police car’s dash camera was also not activated for any part of the encounter.
The Oberlin Drive shooting took place nearly three weeks after law enforcement shot dead 23-year-old black man Casey Goodson as he entered his grandmother’s home. He was buried on Wednesday. The investigation into his death continues.
“Too much is too much. This community is exhausted. The African American community is fearful, worried and outraged. It is a stunning disregard for life,” said Ginther.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations is investigating.
“It’s problematic and we are outraged. These body cameras were paid for with taxpayer money, you are expected to have them. If you don’t have it, you have to go. I mean, why don’t you have it? said Nana Watson, president of the Columbus branch of the NAACP.
Five years ago, the organization demanded that Columbus officers wear body cameras to make changes to the police division and now it appears those recommendations are not being consistently followed.
“What’s the punishment for not having it?” This is also what we need to know. We will never know what happened because there is no audio with the tapes. It is too much for this community to endure. “
Representative Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) called the murder unacceptable.
“There are not enough words to express pain and anger. I feel that another black man was killed in our community at the hands of the police in less than a month. Although we don’t know all the facts, what I do know is that this is unacceptable, ”she wrote in a message on Twitter. “I am very concerned and question police procedures as well as the timing and inconsistent use of body cameras. I am with the community to seek the truth and demand justice. My condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim. “
The mayor added, “We give our officers great power… the power to stop, detain, interrogate, arrest, use force and even take life. And with that power comes greater, including the use of body-worn cameras and rendering assistance, ”the mayor said.
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