A former Ohio police officer, Adam Coy, was found guilty of murder in the shooting of Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a cellphone and keys when he was killed. Coy, a White officer who had served nearly two decades with the Columbus police force, shot Hill four times in a garage nearly four years ago. He was fired after the shooting.
During the trial, Coy testified that he believed Hill was holding a silver revolver and that he thought he was in danger. However, after the shooting, Coy realized that Hill was not armed and admitted that he had made a mistake. Prosecutors argued that Hill had followed the officer’s commands and was not a threat to Coy.
Body camera footage showed Hill holding a cellphone in his left hand before he was shot by Coy. It took nearly 10 minutes before officers at the scene provided aid to Hill, who later died at the hospital. The shooting led to the forced resignation of the police chief and a $10 million settlement with Hill’s family, the largest in city history.
Coy’s attorneys argued that he believed his life was in danger and that he acted reasonably in response. However, prosecutors contended that Coy’s actions were unjustified and that Hill did not pose a threat.
Hill, a father and grandfather, was described by family and friends as a devoted family man and skilled tradesman. He had aspirations of owning his own restaurant after working in the food industry for many years.
Coy had a history of complaints from residents, with more than three dozen filed against him since he joined the police department in 2002. Several of the complaints were related to his use of force, but most were marked as “unfounded” or “not sustained.”
The case highlights the ongoing issue of police violence against Black individuals and the need for police accountability and reform. Andre’s Law was passed in Columbus, requiring police officers to provide immediate medical attention to injured suspects. Coy now faces at least 15 years in prison for the murder of Andre Hill.
