A black man killed during a traffic stop over the weekend has roused the concerns of the “Black Lives Matter” crowd, and now Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters announced his office is “rapidly investigating” to see if the involved officer violated any laws.
Deters said he hopes to have information available at the end of the week, but University of Cincinnati Police Chief Jason Goodrich and Cincinnati Assistant Police Chief James Whalen are still putting the events in context and analyzing them, the local Fox 19 reported.
Killed during a traffic stop for a missing front vehicle license plate was Sam Dubose, 43, by University of Cincinnati Officer Ray Tensing, who is white.
Investigators sifting through the contents of Tensing’s body camera have so far determined Dubose wasn’t able to produce for the officer his driver’s license and that he had a bottle of alcohol in the vehicle. Investigators say Tensing then asked Dubose to get out of the vehicle. Apparently, Dubose didn’t leave the car and shortly after, the two struggled, while Dubose sat behind the wheel, NBC News reported.
The car rolled forward and knocked Tensing to the ground, NBC News reported.
Various media reported Tensing then shot once at Dubose. Dubose, who was struck in the head by the bullet, died a short time later, Whalen said, Fox 19 reported. Later investigation revealed he didn’t have a firearm in the vehicle.
Tensing has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.
“This incident didn’t involve a Cincinnati Police Department officer, but it happened in our city and it is our job to ensure this investigation is handled with the attention it deserves,” said city manager Harry Black, NBC News reported.
But many in the community are upset with the shooting and the failure of police to release the body-camera footage.
Friends and family held a vigil Tuesday, and demanded the police release the video. Dubose was reportedly the father of 12 and his family said he was engaged to be married.
The University of Cincinnati sent out a statement expressing condolences: “Our hearts grieve for his loss. We also know that police officers risk their lives every day and when their efforts to protect themselves and our community result in a death, it is a tragedy.”
But “Black Lives Matter Cincinnati” is calling for more action. The group gathered for an “action meeting” late Tuesday and are planning to protest this coming weekend.
“We don’t believe that things happened as they say,” said Brian Taylor, with the group, Fox 19 reported. “Even if the facts that have been stated are accurate, those things don’t justify a man pulling out a gun and shooting Samuel Dubose. It just simply doesn’t.”
Taylor also said his group’s main demand is “transparency.”
He went on, Fox 19 said: “In some cases, we may never have all the facts. But one thing’s for sure, it’s that [the videos are] being held and things are being taken for granted that they’re accurate.”
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