Ohio officer’s body camera not activated after fatal shooting of black man in Columbus, officials say



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A Columbus, Ohio, police officer did not have his body camera fully activated in the fatal shooting of a 47-year-old black man on Tuesday morning, officials said.

The incident is the second police shootout this month, after Casey Goodson, Jr., 23, was fatally shot by Local County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Meade. Goodson’s death was considered a homicide, and sparked protestss in the city.

Columbus Department Public Security said Tuesday’s shoot itself was captured on video due to a 60-second “rollback” feature on the cameras. However, this function does not pick up sound, which means that it is not known what was said before or during the shooting.

Available footage from Tuesday’s incident shows the victim walking towards the officer with a cell phone in his left hand, but his right hand was not visible, the ministry said.

An officer fired his gun, hitting the man. The agent has not been identified.

The officer’s body camera footage that responded showed the man walking towards the officer with a cell phone in his left hand, but his right hand was not visible.

The ministry said the preliminary investigation indicated the victim was visiting someone at the home. The images also show a “delay in providing first aid to man”.

The victim has not been identified.

Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan said in a statement he ordered the officer to be relieved of his duties pending criminal and internal investigations.

He noted that the division had invested millions of dollars in body camera footage “for the express purpose of creating a video and audio recording of such encounters.”

“They provide transparency and accountability, and protect the public, as well as the officers, when the facts are in question,” Quain said.

The mayor of Columbus said it was unacceptable that the officer’s body camera was not fully turned on.

“This morning, we learned of the murder of another black man at the hands of law enforcement,” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther tweeted Tuesday. Casey Goodson, Jr., right here in Columbus.

“The subject officer did not turn on his body-worn camera – which is unacceptable. The officer involved was relieved of his duties, forcing him to return his badge and firearm, stripping him of his police powers pending the outcome of criminal and internal investigations.



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