"You know, every time we think we have an open window where we can begin to have healing and change in the community and begin to build trust, and now we're back to ground zero again because of two back-to-back shootings of Black men," Stephanie Hightower, president of the Columbus Urban League, told NPR member station WOSU on Wednesday. The two shootings occurred during a critical juncture for police reforms in Columbus. Goodson's family disputes the account given by authorities, including whether Goodson had a gun on him at all, and called for Meade to be fired and charged with murder.Īuthorities haven't announced state or federal charges against Meade, who remains on administrative leave. Authorities have not located any witnesses to the shooting.Īn attorney for Meade said that Goodson pointed a gun at the deputy and refused commands to stand down, but that claim cannot be verified due to the absence of recordings or witnesses. Unlike Columbus police officers, Franklin County sheriff's deputies don't wear body cameras, so there is no audio or video of the encounter between Meade and Goodson. Similar to Tuesday's shooting, a lack of recorded evidence presents a challenge to investigators. Still, there are many uncertainties surrounding Goodson's shooting, which prompted days of protests in downtown Columbus. Meade then fatally shot Goodson at his home, with a preliminary report from the county coroner finding that the man likely died from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. by Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Meade, who is white.Īuthorities say Meade encountered Goodson while conducting a search for an unrelated suspect in the Northland neighborhood, and went to confront Goodson – who was neither the person officers were looking for nor the subject of any investigation. Hill's death came just three weeks after a separate law enforcement shooting of a Black man in Columbus, which sparked a federal civil rights investigation of its own.ĭeVillers is currently heading a joint criminal-civil rights probe into the Dec. "This office will then consult with the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office on how to proceed at the conclusion of our review." Attorney's Office review the investigation for possible federal civil rights violations, and after consulting with Ohio Attorney General Yost, I agreed that my office will review the case as requested once BCI's investigation is complete," DeVillers said in a statement Wednesday. Attorney David DeVillers said his office also will review if any federal civil rights laws were violated. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is leading the inquiry. Ginther said that Hill was known to the residents of the house where he was shot and an "expected guest." Not even a hand on the shoulder and an encouraging word that medics were en route." No compression on the wounds to stop the bleeding. "From what we can see, none of the officers initially at the scene provide medical assistance to Mr. "I am also very disturbed about what I don't see next in the body-worn camera footage," Ginther said. Police say there is no dashcam footage because officers were responding to a nonemergency call.Īt a press conference Wednesday, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther called for the immediate termination of Coy, saying he was "outraged" by the shooting. The official Columbus police report of the shooting, also released Wednesday, is brief and absent of most details: "Officer discharged his firearm upon confronting Mr. "Roll to your stomach now."Ĭoy asks another officer if medics are coming, walks up to Hill and rolls him over onto his back. Hands out to the side now," Coy shouts in the video, breathing heavily. Hill took several steps toward Coy, who raised his gun and shot him.īecause Coy did not activate his camera until after the shooting, there is no audio for the first minute of the footage – Columbus police body cameras feature a "look back" function that records video but no audio of the 60 seconds before activation. Footage from Coy's body camera shows officers walking up to an open garage and shining their flashlights on Hill, who turned around and held up his cellphone.
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