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Police officer indicted for murder in fatal shooting of Samuel Dubose Police officer indicted for murder in fatal shooting of Samuel Dubose
(35 minutes later)
Authorities in Cincinnati have indicted a university police officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black man earlier this month. Authorities in Cincinnati have indicted a university police officer for murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black man earlier this month.
Police body camera footage depicting the fatal shooting will be released on Wednesday, as the city braces for a grand jury decision and more protests over the case. Police body camera footage depicting the fatal shooting was released at a press conference on Wednesday, as the city braces for possible protests over the case.
Samuel Dubose, 43, was fatally shot in the head by white officer Ray Tensing of the University of Cincinnati police department on 19 July. The incident occurred during a routine traffic stop after Tensing had pulled Dubose over for having a missing front license plate. According to the police account Dubose refused to provide officer Tensing with his driver’s license, producing a bottle of alcohol instead and refusing to exit the vehicle.
Related: Cincinnati promises reform after Samuel Dubose's death but a family demands justice and answersRelated: Cincinnati promises reform after Samuel Dubose's death but a family demands justice and answers
Some sort of altercation between the two then occurred. According to Tensing’s incident report, the officer fired his gun after being dragged by Dubose’s vehicle. Tensing’s radio dispatch immediately after the incident made no reference to being dragged, instead he stated he was “almost run over” by Dubose’s vehicle. Samuel Dubose, 43, was fatally shot in the head by white officer Ray Tensing of the University of Cincinnati police department on 19 July. The incident occurred during a routine traffic stop after Tensing had pulled Dubose over for having a missing front license plate. According to the police account Dubose refused to provide officer Tensing with his driver’s license, producing a bottle of alcohol instead and refusing to exit the vehicle.
Announcing the charges on Wednesday, Hamilton county prosecutor Joseph Deters described the shooting as “so senseless”.
“I feel sorry for his [Dubose’s] family. I feel sorry for the community, it should never have happened.”
Dubose has been officially charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter, and faces life in prison if convicted.
Deters added that a warrant had been issued for Tensing’s arrest and police officers had been dispatched to bring him in. “Hopefully they’ll get him soon,” he said.
According to Tensing’s incident report, the officer fired his gun after being dragged by Dubose’s vehicle. Tensing’s radio dispatch immediately after the incident made no reference to being dragged, instead he stated he was “almost run over” by Dubose’s vehicle.
Members of Dubose’s family have disputed this narrative, arguing that despite his criminal history, which includes over 75 charges in Hamilton County for traffic and drugs charges, he was not a violent man.Members of Dubose’s family have disputed this narrative, arguing that despite his criminal history, which includes over 75 charges in Hamilton County for traffic and drugs charges, he was not a violent man.
“He got stopped a lot, but he never tried to fight,” Audrey Dubose, his mother, told Cincinnati.com.“He got stopped a lot, but he never tried to fight,” Audrey Dubose, his mother, told Cincinnati.com.
Cincinnati police chief Jeffrey Blackwell, who has viewed the body camera footage, conceded earlier in the week that “it’s not good”. Deters said that after reviewing the body camera footage, Tensing’s account that he had been “dragged” by Dubose’s vehicle was shown to be untrue.
“It is our belief that he was not dragged. If you slow down this tape you see what happens, it is a very slow period of time from when the car starts rolling to when a gun is out and he’s shot in the head,” Deters said.
“He [Dubose] was simply, slowly rolling away,” Deters added.
Deters said Tensing’s response to the fact Dubose’s car started to roll should have been to “let him go”.
Cincinnati police chief Jeffrey Blackwell, who had viewed the body camera footage, conceded earlier in the week that “it’s not good”.
“The video is not good,” Blackwell told local TV news on Monday. “I think the city manager has said that also publicly. I’ll leave it there.”“The video is not good,” Blackwell told local TV news on Monday. “I think the city manager has said that also publicly. I’ll leave it there.”
Tensing’s lawyer, Stew Mathews, said on Tuesday, he was expecting his client would be indicted over the shooting.Tensing’s lawyer, Stew Mathews, said on Tuesday, he was expecting his client would be indicted over the shooting.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there is an indictment, I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t an indictment, but I think it’s more likely there will be an indictment,” Mathews said.“I wouldn’t be surprised if there is an indictment, I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t an indictment, but I think it’s more likely there will be an indictment,” Mathews said.
Hamilton County prosecutor Joseph Deters is due to hold a press conference in relation to the case at 1pm ET on Wednesday afternoon. A spokesman for Deters’ office would not comment on whether an announcement of the grand jury’s decision would be made at this time. The prosecutor had originally planned to release the body camera video on Thursday. Later asked if he thought Tensing had deliberately misled investigators, Deters responded:
The University of Cincinnati has cancelled all classes on its uptown and medical campuses today in anticipation of a grand jury decision announcement. In a statement, the university said the decision was made with “an abundance of caution”. “Yes. I think he was making an excuse for a purposeful killing of another person.”
The University of Cincinnati cancelled all classes on its uptown and medical campuses on Wednesday in anticipation of the grand jury decision announcement. In a statement, the university said the decision was made with “an abundance of caution”.
“We realize this is a challenging time for our university community,” the statement said.“We realize this is a challenging time for our university community,” the statement said.
Cincinnati mayor John Cranley told reporters the city was preparing for further protests following the expected announcement.Cincinnati mayor John Cranley told reporters the city was preparing for further protests following the expected announcement.
“I think we’re prepared,” Cranley said Tuesday. “Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate lawlessness.”“I think we’re prepared,” Cranley said Tuesday. “Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate lawlessness.”