Former Columbus police officer Adam Coy was convicted of murder for fatally shooting Andre Hill, a Black man holding a cell phone and keys, nearly four years ago. Coy, a 20-year veteran of the force, fired four times, later claiming he believed Hill had a silver revolver. "I thought I was going to die," Coy testified. After rolling Hill over and finding only keys, Coy realized his error. "I knew at that point I made a mistake. I was horrified."
The December 2020 incident, captured on body camera footage, showed Hill emerging from a friend's garage, holding up a cellphone in one hand. Although Coy said he shouted "Gun! Gun!" before firing, prosecutors argued that Hill had complied with commands and posed no threat.
"We're taught do what the cops tell you to do and you can survive that encounter," Assistant Prosecutor Anthony Pierson said. "That's not what happened here." Defense attorneys contended Coy acted "reasonably" given his perception of danger.
Following Hill's death, the Columbus community reacted strongly. The city reached a historic $10 million settlement with Hill's family, and "Andre's Law" was passed, mandating officers to render immediate medical aid to injured suspects. Body camera footage revealed nearly 10 minutes passed before any aid was offered to Hill, who succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Coy had approached Hill after a complaint about someone in a parked vehicle. Hill explained he was waiting for a friend, but Coy became suspicious when Hill entered the garage. Coy testified that he saw what appeared to be a gun in Hill's hand, prompting the fatal shots.
The former officer, who had a record of over three dozen complaints—most dismissed—now awaits sentencing, facing a minimum of 15 years in prison. Franklin County Judge Stephen McIntosh scheduled Coy's sentencing for November 25, following the verdict that evoked audible reactions in the courtroom. Hill, a father and grandfather, was remembered by loved ones as a skilled tradesman with dreams of opening a restaurant.
Link: CNN
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