A former police officer in Ohio is currently facing trial for the shooting of Andre Hill, a Black man, nearly four years ago. During the opening arguments on Thursday, the defense attorney for Officer Adam Coy stated that he mistakenly believed Hill was about to shoot him. This misunderstanding was triggered by a flash of light reflecting off the keys Hill held in his hand as he emerged from a garage. Coy, who had nearly two decades of service with the Columbus police department, is charged with murder, reckless homicide, and felonious assault, which could potentially result in a life sentence if he is found guilty. He was terminated from the force after the incident in December 2020 and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Investigators determined that Hill, who was 47 years old, was not armed; instead, he was holding a cellphone in one hand and keys in the other. The defense attorney, Kaitlyn Stephens, informed the jury that the absence of a weapon in Hill’s hands does not invalidate Coy’s response, adding that police officers can act on mistaken beliefs in threatening situations.
On the other hand, Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Renee Amlin emphasized that Hill complied with the officer’s orders and posed no threat to Coy at any time. Body camera footage is expected to play a significant role in the trial, as it shows Hill emerging from his friend’s garage while holding his cellphone up, with his right hand remaining out of view, just moments before Coy fatally shot him. Following the shooting, approximately ten minutes elapsed before medical assistance was provided to Hill, who subsequently died at the hospital.
The shooting instigated significant public outrage, leading to the resignation of the police chief after weeks of scrutiny surrounding multiple high-profile cases involving fatal police shootings of Black individuals. The city of Columbus later settled with Hill’s family for $10 million, marking the largest payout in the city’s history. Additionally, the Columbus City Council enacted Andre’s Law, mandating that officers must provide immediate medical care to any injured suspects.
Coy had arrived in the neighborhood to investigate a report concerning noise from a running vehicle when he spotted Hill sitting in an SUV. According to Stephens, Coy deemed Hill suspicious and thought he was attempting to conceal something. Soon after, Hill approached a house, knocked on the door, and entered the garage, which caused Coy to lose sight of him. This led the officer to suspect Hill was attempting to break into the property. Soon thereafter, Coy and another officer confronted Hill in the garage.
Family and friends remember Andre Hill as a dedicated father and grandfather who cherished his family. He was a skilled tradesman with aspirations of owning his own restaurant, having previously worked as a chef and restaurant manager. Meanwhile, the history of complaints against Officer Coy is considerable, with over thirty documented grievances since he joined the police force in 2002. Approximately a dozen of those complaints pertained to the use of force, though most were categorized as “unfounded” or “not sustained.”