A grand jury has decided to indict University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing for murder in the July 19th shooting death of Samuel DuBose.
“I’ve been doing this for over 30 years,” said Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Deters. “This is the most asinine act I’ve ever seen a police officer make, totally unwarranted. It’s an absolute tragedy in the year 2015, that anyone would behave in this manner.”
Deters spoke at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, during which he also showed the body camera footage of Officer Tensing during the shooting. It shows DuBose being pulled over for not having a front license plate. Things quickly escalate as Officer Tensing asks DuBose to step out of the car. Then Tensing fires a single shot, hitting DuBose in the head.
“He didn’t do anything violent to the officer,” prosecutor Deters said.
The body camera footage, which had been kept under wraps during the investigation, is credited with the swift indictment.
DuBose family attorney Mark O’Mara said, “You look at that three-page police report and it was self-serving. That video contradicts the police report. If there wasn’t video available, there would not have been an indictment.”
“If it were not for that video camera, Sam would be no different than all those other incidents,” said Terina Allen, DuBose’s sister.” My brother was just about to be one other stereotype and that’s not going to happen.”
Alex Presha