Killing of Andre Hill

On December 22, 2020, 47-year-old Andre Hill was shot and killed by Officer Adam Coy of the Columbus Division of Police in Columbus, Ohio. Coy had been called to the neighborhood in response to a non-emergency call from a neighbor who reportedly witnessed someone sit in an SUV and turn the car on and off. Hill was leaving a friend's house when Coy confronted and shot him. Hill was unarmed, and was holding a smartphone. Coy was fired from the Columbus Police less than a week later.[1][2] The shooting was the second killing by police in Columbus in December 2020, following the shooting of Casey Goodson on December 4.[3]

Killing of Andre Hill
DateDecember 22, 2020 (2020-12-22)
LocationColumbus, Ohio
TypeShooting
ParticipantsAdam Coy
DeathsAndre Hill

People involved

Andre Maurice Hill (also identified as Andre' Hill)[4][5] was a 47-year-old African American man. He had one daughter and a granddaughter. Hill was a supporter of Black Lives Matter (BLM) and was wearing a BLM shirt when he was killed.[6]

Adam Coy worked for the Columbus Division of Police for 17 years. Following the shooting, Coy was fired.[1][7] In 2012 Coy was involved in an excessive force complaint that ended with the City of Columbus paying $54,000. Coy was suspended for 160 hours.[8]

Fatal shooting

Coy and another officer, who has been identified as Amy Detweiler, responded to a non-emergency call around 1:49 AM about a car repeatedly turning on and off near 1000 Oberlin Drive. It is unclear if this car had anything to do with Hill. Around the same time Coy and Detweiler arrived at the scene, Hill was leaving a friend's house while holding a smartphone in his left hand. Bodycam footage shows Hill taking several steps towards officers. Coy shot Hill several times, as he yelled at him to show his hands.[9] Coy did not turn on his bodycam before the shooting, but the camera has a 60-second look-back feature that shows the minute prior, which recorded the shooting with video, but no audio. Hill was taken to OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead.[10]

Investigation and termination

A Franklin County's coroner report ruled Hill's death a homicide, listing "multiple gunshot wounds" as the cause of death.[11] The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.[12] Two days after the shooting on December 24, Columbus Police chief Thomas Quinlan announced he was recommending Coy's termination. On December 28, Coy was fired from the Columbus Division of Police.[9] At least a dozen officers failed to render aid to Hill, violating department policy. Coy is the only officer who has been fired.

Criminal charges

Hill's family has hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. Crump spoke at a vigil for Hill, as did Hill's daughter.[13]

On February 3, 2021, a Franklin County grand jury indicted Coy on charges of murder, felonious assault and dereliction of duty.[5]

Reaction

On December 26, a vigil for Hill was held at the Brentnell Community Center in North East Columbus. During the vigil, Benjamin Crump announced that an independent autopsy would be conducted on Hill.[14] A protest occurred on December 24 in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred. Demonstrators also protested the death of Casey Goodson, who was killed by police on December 4. Goodson was not killed by a Columbus Division of Police officer, but rather by a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy.[15][16]

See also

References
  1. Deliso, Meredith (28 December 2020). "Columbus, Ohio officer who shot unarmed Black man fired as family demands justice". ABC 11. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. Snyder, Alec; Nickeas, Peter; Terry Ellis, Nicquel (28 December 2020). "The Columbus, Ohio, officer who killed Andre Hill has been fired". CNN. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  3. Mansell, William (22 December 2020). "Columbus, Ohio, police officer relieved of duty after fatal shooting of Black man". ABC News. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  4. Landers, Kevin (December 24, 2020). "Dozens protest in north Columbus neighborhood where Andre' Hill was fatally shot". 10 WBNS. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  5. "Former Columbus police officer Adam Coy indicted for murder in shooting of Andre' Hill". WBNS. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  6. Narciso, Dean (26 December 2020). "Family, friends and strangers support Andre' Hill, demand police reforms". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  7. Farnoush, Amiri (28 December 2020). "Ohio police officer fired in fatal shooting of Black man". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  8. Boggs, Justin (28 December 2020). "Adam Coy, Ohio officer who fatally shot unarmed Andre Hill, fired by Columbus Police". ABC 7 Denver. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  9. Albert, Victoria (28 December 2020). "Ohio cop fired over fatal shooting of Andre Hill". CBS News. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  10. Bruner, Bethany (23 December 2020). "Here's video and a timeline of the Andre Hill shooting by Columbus police". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  11. Bowden, John (28 December 2020). "Death of Andre Hill ruled homicide as police officer awaits employment ruling". The Hill. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  12. "Coroner: Andre' Hill died from multiple gunshot wounds; death ruled a homicide". 10 WBNS. December 28, 2020. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. Evans, Nick (December 26, 2020). "Attorney For Andre Hill's Family Questions Police Actions After Shooting". WOSU. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  14. Wynn, Sarah (December 26, 2020). "Attorney for Andre' Hill's family calls for justice during press conference". KUTV. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. "Protesters in Ohio call for justice in police killing of Andre Hill". Fox 2 Now. December 24, 2020. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  16. Bosco, Tom (December 24, 2020). "Rally held in neighborhood where Columbus police officer shot and killed Andre' Hill". ABC 6. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
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