A white former police officer who killed a Black man walking out of a garage four years ago in Columbus, Ohio, was found guilty of murder on Monday.
Adam Coy, 48, faces life in prison for fatally shooting Andre Hill, 47, on Dec. 22, 2020.
Coy was found guilty by a jury on all three counts: murder, reckless homicide and felonious assault.
Andre Hill, 47, was killed on Dec. 22. 2020, after Coy responded to a report about a vehicle’s being turned on and off around 1:30 a.m. Coy had ordered Hill to exit the garage of a house he thought was being burglarized.
Investigators later learned that Hill was a guest of the homeowner.
The Columbus Police Department fired Coy shortly after the shooting, and the city reached a $10 million settlement with Hill’s family in 2021.
During the trial, Coy testified that he mistakenly believed Hill was holding a revolver when he fired four shots.
“I thought I was going to die,” Coy said in court, adding that he believed Hill was holding a revolver in his right hand when he confronted him in the driveway.
It turned out that Hill was holding a set of keys.
“I said, ‘f—.’ I knew at that point that I had made a mistake,” Coy testified.
Defense attorney Kaitlyn Stephens argued that the shooting was a mistake, that Coy feared for his life and that he followed his police training.
Possession of a weapon is irrelevant and mistakes happen, Stephens said in court, adding that Hill’s hand was presented with a glint of steel.
Prosecutor Anthony Pierson countered during cross-examination that Coy could have determined whether Hill was dangerous by asking for identification, speaking with the homeowners or checking whether there were any outstanding warrants for Hill’s arrest.
“The fact was you shot an unarmed man and then came up with this story later to cover yourself,” Pierson said.
The start of the trial faced several delays as Coy was treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, according to NBC affiliate WCMH of Columbus.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
