US officer charged with murder after deadly traffic stop, video footage released.
- A video footage released today from a police officer’s body cam lasts about 10 minutes and shows the shooting.
Ray Tensing, 25, had pleaded not guilty in the death of 43-year-old Samuel DuBose before Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan, who set his bond at $1 million, video footage as seen on CNN.
Ray Tensing, 25, had pleaded not guilty in the death of 43-year-old Samuel DuBose before Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan, who set his bond at $1 million.
A white Ohio police officer who shot a black man during a routine traffic stop was charged with murder in what county prosecutor called a “senseless” act motivated by anger.
The case comes as the United States grapples with heightened racial tensions in the wake of a series of high-profile incidents of unarmed African Americans being killed by police in disputed circumstances.
“He wasn’t dealing with someone who was wanted for murder — he was dealing with someone with a missing license plate,” Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters told reporters.
“This is in the vernacular a pretty ‘chicken crap’ stop. If he started rolling away, seriously, let him go. You don’t have to shoot him in the head.”
University of Cincinnati campus police officer Ray Tensing initially told investigators that he shot Sam DuBose in the head after DuBose tried to drive away and dragged the officer along with him.
Tensing was indicted on Wednesday on murder and voluntary manslaughter charges in the July 19 death of Samuel DuBose, who was shot in the head during a traffic stop. Tensing, who turned himself in and spent the night in jail in isolation, appeared in court in gray, striped prison clothes.
The incident was the latest in a series of fatal police confrontations in the United States that have raised questions about law enforcement’s use of force against minorities.
In announcing the indictment on Wednesday, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters said Tensing was not dragged by DuBose’s car as the officer had claimed to justify the shooting.
Authorities said Tensing had spotted a car driven by DuBose and had noticed that the front license plate was missing. Ohio law requires license plates on both the front and the rear of a car.
The incident was captured on Tensing’s body camera. Video footage from the camera was released Wednesday. It shows how Tensing then stopped the vehicle. The two exchanged words after DuBose refused to provide a driver’s license and get out of the car. DuBose started the engine and moved the car forward. Tensing said he was dragged by the car and forced to shoot at DuBose. He fired one shot, striking him in the head.
But Deters dismissed Tensing’s claim that he was dragged and suggested he shouldn’t have pulled DuBose over to begin with. Image screencap from CNN report