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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 for murder 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 was released at a press conference on Wednesday, as the city braces for possible 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.
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
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. 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”.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.” “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. Local news reports stated that Tensing turned himself in on Wednesday to face charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter. He 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. 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.
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. 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.“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. “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”. 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.” Related: The Counted: people killed by police in the United States in 2015 – interactive
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. Asked if he thought Tensing had deliberately misled investigators, Deters responded:
Later asked if he thought Tensing had deliberately misled investigators, Deters responded:
“Yes. I think he was making an excuse for a purposeful killing of another person.”“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”. 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.
Deters said he had spoken to the Cincinnati police chief and recommended that the university police department be disbanded and replaced with a new city police precinct on campus.
“The university does a great job educating people … that should be their job, being police officers should not be their role.”
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.”