Police in Columbus, Ohio, launched physique digital camera footage on Tuesday after an officer fatally shot a 20-year-old man inside seconds of encountering him whereas making an attempt to serve an arrest warrant earlier that day.
Within the video, which was launched throughout a information convention, an officer might be seen firing on the man, who police recognized as Donovan Lewis, shortly after finding him in an condominium Tuesday morning. Lewis might be seen showing to sit down up in mattress and lift a hand within the moments earlier than he’s shot.
Chief Elaine Bryant stated throughout the information convention that Officer Ricky Anderson fired his gun when Lewis appeared to boost a hand with one thing in it, NBC affiliate WCMH of Columbus reported. Bryant stated a tool showing to be a “vape pen” was later “discovered on the mattress proper subsequent to him.”
Anderson, a 30-year veteran of the drive who was assigned to the canine unit, was positioned on depart pending an investigation into the lethal taking pictures, in line with the news station. NBC Information has reached out to Anderson and the police union for remark.
“Donovan Lewis misplaced his life. As a mother or father, you recognize, I sympathize and I grieve along with his mom,” Bryant stated. “As a group, I grieve with our group however we’re gonna permit this investigation to happen,” she stated.
Officers had been making an attempt to serve a felony warrant at an condominium simply earlier than 2:30 a.m. when the lethal taking pictures unfolded, the Columbus Division of Police stated in a information launch Tuesday.
The physique digital camera footage reveals the moments main as much as the incident after officers arrived on the condominium. Within the video, officers might be seen knocking on the condominium’s entrance door earlier than a person finally solutions and is taken into custody. One other man encountered inside the doorway of the condominium was additionally detained, WCMH reported.
Officers can later be seen contained in the condominium with a police canine, which seems to begin barking at a again bed room door. Officers advance upon the door and Anderson, gripping the canine’s collar in a single hand, pushes it open with the opposite earlier than firing his weapon shortly after.
Police stated officers offered assist to Lewis till Columbus Fireplace medics arrived on scene and transported him to a hospital.
Lewis was pronounced lifeless on the hospital at 3:19 a.m., police stated, inside an hour of the incident unfolding.
The Ohio Bureau of Legal Investigation has opened an investigation into the police taking pictures, police stated. The bureau didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from NBC Information.
Lewis’ dying comes lower than two years after a Columbus police officer lost his job days after fatally shooting a Black man who was discovered to have been unarmed.
In Could of final 12 months, the Metropolis of Columbus reached a $10 million settlement with Andre Hill’s family over the lethal taking pictures.
