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The shooting of Samuel DuBose occurred during a traffic stop for a missing front license plate on July 19, 2015, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ray Tensing, a white University of Cincinnati police officer, fatally shot DuBose, an unarmed black man, when Dubose started his car and, according to Tensing, began to drive off. Tensing stated that he was being dragged when his arm became caught in the car. Prosecutors alleged that footage from Tensing's bodycam showed that he was not dragged and a grand jury indicted him on charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter. He was then fired from the police department.

Backgrounds

Samuel DuBose

Samuel Vincent DuBose (c. 1972 – July 19, 2015), a 43-year-old black man, was a rapper, a music producer, entrepreneur, and motorcycle enthusiast. He attended high school in Cincinnati and was the father of 13 children. DuBose had been charged or arrested more than 60 times, mostly on traffic and minor drug charges. He served less than a year in a state prison on a 2005 marijuana trafficking charge.

Raymond Tensing

Raymond Tensing (born November 13, 1989), a white police officer who was 25 years old at the time of the shooting, had four years of law enforcement experience. Prior to working for the University of Cincinnati Police Department (UCPD), he was an officer with the department of Greenhills, Ohio.

Tensing graduated cum laude with a degree in criminal justice from University of Cincinnati Clermont College in 2012 and had a clean performance record. He was involved in a fight in August 2010, a few weeks after he completed his training at the police academy. Tensing conducted an independent investigation of the incident, was described as being unhappy with the Cincinnati Police Department's handling of the case, and was noted for his aggressive attitude at the time. As a result of his investigation, the case against other combatants was dismissed.

Shooting

External videos
Bodycam 1 – Tensing
Bodycam 2 – Kidd
Bodycam 3 – Lindenschmidt

At 6:30 p.m., on Rice Street near Thill Street, Tensing stopped DuBose for failure to display a front license plate, which is a primary offense for vehicles with Ohio license plates. The incident was recorded on Tensing's bodycam, which he activated before the traffic stop.

Seen in the bodycam video, Tensing repeatedly requests a driver's license and DuBose replies that he has a driver's license, before eventually stating that he does not have it with him, causing Tensing to ask, "Are you suspended?" Tensing starts to open the driver's door and tells DuBose to remove his seat belt. DuBose pulls the door closed and starts the engine.

Within the next few seconds, Tensing reaches into the car with his left hand, yells "Stop! Stop!", draws his pistol with his right hand, and fires once. Tensing falls away from the vehicle which moves forward as he and two other officers run after it. It comes to a stop after about 400 feet (120 m).

After the officers reach the car, the video shows DuBose inside with an apparent gunshot wound to his head. The county coroner's preliminary autopsy results, released on July 31, confirmed that as the cause of death. Sources differed as to whether the car was moving before the shot was fired.

In bodycam footage, Tensing repeatedly tells other officers that he was dragged when his arm became caught in the car, possibly in the steering wheel. In the police report that he filed after the incident, he stated that he was dragged, forcing him to fire his weapon. On July 29, authorities released Tensing's bodycam video, which, according to prosecutors, shows that Tensing was not dragged.

A day after the shooting, it was reported that DuBose was driving on an indefinitely suspended driver's license, and had marijuana and about $2,600 cash in the car.

Police accounts

UCPD officers Phillip Kidd and David Lindenschmidt arrived at the scene just after the gunshot, and bodycam footage shows Tensing getting up off the pavement. In his bodycam video, Kidd is heard supporting Tensing's statement that he was dragged by the car. According to County Prosecutor Joe Deters, neither officer stated in his official statement to Cincinnati police that he saw Tensing being dragged. Kidd and Lindenschmidt were not indicted by the grand jury. "These officers have been truthful and honest about what happened and no charges are warranted," Deters said. Kidd and Lindenschmidt were placed on administrative leave during a university investigation.

Eric Weibel, a UCPD officer who did not witness the shooting, stated in a report that Tensing's uniform looked like he had been dragged.

Legal proceedings

On July 29, Tensing was indicted on charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter. The murder charge carries a penalty of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 15 years. As a result of the indictment, he was fired from the UCPD. At his July 30 arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charges, and he was released on $1 million bail later that day. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for November 16.

Stew Mathews, Tensing's attorney, said that Tensing was being dragged by the car, and that the officer fired in self-defense. Mathews said that video from Lindenschmidt's bodycam helped substantiate that claim.

According to the UCPD use of force procedure, campus officers "should not discharge a firearm at or from a moving vehicle except as the ultimate measure of self-defense or defense of another when the suspect is using deadly force".

Aftermath

Official reactions

On July 29, County Prosecutor Joe Deters stated in a press conference that the shooting was "asinine" and "senseless". He said that DuBose was not acting violently or aggressively. With "an abundance of caution in anticipation" of Deters' announcement, the University of Cincinnati closed its Uptown and Medical campuses at 11:00 a.m. The campuses resumed normal operations the next day.

On July 31, the Fraternal Order of Police-Ohio Labor Council, a union that represents UCPD employees, filed a grievance asking that Tensing be reinstated to his position on the police force, asserting that he was terminated "without just cause".

In the wake of the shooting, Deters called for the disbandment of the UCPD force and its replacement with city police officers. The incident also drew attention to the presence of armed law enforcement on college campuses.

Public reactions

The body camera recording of Tensing shooting DuBose has garnered considerable attention. The footage has been compared to a first-person-shooter video game and described as so "disturbing" that Cincinnati police prepared for large protests and riots before the footage's release.

As of July 30, at least four demonstrations have been held around the country in response to DuBose's death.

A Black Lives Matter rally in support of DuBose was held in Cincinnati on July 31. Around 300 participants walked through Over-the-Rhine to Fountain Square. Six people were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest during the march.

There was some public and academic criticism of Deters' comments, on the basis that his rhetoric would jeopardize Tensing's right to a fair trial and that they were anti-police.

Kroll report

A report released in September 2015 by Kroll Inc., a risk consulting firm hired by the university, said that Tensing's bodycam video showed that he was not dragged. It also said that the car had not moved, or had barely moved, before the gunshot was fired. It faulted both men for unnecessarily escalating the situation, DuBose by failing to comply with Tensing's command to get out of the car and starting the engine. The report offered no opinion as to Tensing's guilt or innocence in the criminal case. Tensing's attorney said, "I don't agree with their analysis or their conclusions." The report's recommendations include reviewing the scope of the UCPD's jurisdiction, improving relevant training and policies, clarifying reporting requirements following officer-involved shootings, providing cultural diversity training, and assessing the diversity of officers within the UCPD.

University reactions

Following the shooting the UCPD stopped making off-campus traffic stops.

On October 16, 2015, a student group, named "Irate 8" for the eight percent of black students at University of Cincinnati campuses, presented a list of demands to the university president. The list includes taking officers Kidd and Lindenschmidt off patrol, conducting full background checks of police and other university employees, and mandating racial sensitivity training for all staff and students. President Ono agreed to meet them and discuss their demands.

See also

• List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States

References

1. Welsh-Huggins, Andrew (July 29, 2015). "Details on university police officer, shooting victim". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
2. ^ "Investigation finished in Cincinnati police shooting". CNN. July 29, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
3. "Cincinnati Prosecutor Probing Shooting of Motorist by University Police Officer". Fox News. July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
4. "Police describe struggle that led UC officer to shoot, kill man". WCPO-TV. Cincinnati, Ohio. July 19, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
5. ^ Richinick, Michele (July 29, 2015). "Grand Jury Indicts Police Officer Ray Tensing for Shooting Death of Samuel Dubose". Newsweek. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
6. "Fired Ohio cop used stun gun on man". Yahoo! News. July 29, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
7. "UC officer accused of killing motorist has clean performance record". WCPO-TV. Cincinnati, Ohio. July 29, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
8. "After being beaten in 2010 fight, Ray Tensing seemed like a 'ticking time bomb,' attorney says". WCPO-TV. Cincinnati, Ohio. August 5, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
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10. ^ Coolidge, Sharon; Grasha, Kevin; Horn, Dan (July 30, 2015). "Prosecutor: UC Officer 'Purposefully Killed' DuBose". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
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14. http://www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/safety-reform/documents/Kroll%20Report%20of%20Investigation%208.31.2015.pdf
15. ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard (July 29, 2015). "University of Cincinnati Officer Indicted in Fatal Shooting of Driver". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
16. "Body camera video released in Sam DuBose shooting". WCPO-TV. Cincinnati, Ohio. July 29, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
17. "No Charges For 2 Cops At Scene Of Sam DuBose's Killing". The Huffington Post. July 31, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
18. Bittenbender, Steve (July 30, 2015). "Ohio officer charged with murder pleads not guilty, released on bond". Reuters. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
19. Carrero, Jacquellena (July 29, 2015). "Family of Samuel DuBose, Killed by University Cop, Calls for Peace After Cincinnati Indictment". NBC News. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
20. Rogers, Katie (July 22, 2015). "Questions After Unarmed Ohio Man Is Killed in Traffic Stop". The New York Times. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
21. "No Charges vs. 2 Officers at Scene of Traffic Stop Shooting". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 31, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
22. Carrero, Jacquellena (July 30, 2015). "Samuel DuBose Shooting: Second Body Cam Video Shows Police Response". NBC News. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
23. "Officers Involved In Samuel DuBose Shooting Were Sued In Earlier Death Of Unarmed Black Man". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2015. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: save command (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
24. "$1 million bond set for officer charged with murder". Cincinnati.com. July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
25. Carrero, Jacquellena (July 29, 2015). "University of Cincinnati Police Officer Indicted for Murder in Death of Samuel Dubose". NBC News. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
26. Grasha, Kevin (September 8, 2015). "Ex-UC officer Ray Tensing's murder trial postponed". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
27. Congedo, Jackie (July 30, 2015). "Former UC Officer Ray Tensing's attorney plans to use self-defense claim". WLWT-TV. Cincinnati, Ohio. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
28. "Samuel DuBose video appears to show two officers reinforced false account of police killing". July 29, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
29. Ford, Dana (July 29, 2015). "University cop indicted in traffic stop shooting". CNN. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
30. Ralston, Michele; Reilly, M.B. (July 30, 2015). "Information on July 19 Officer-Involved Shooting". University of Cincinnati. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
31. Saker, Anne (July 31, 2015). "Tensing, through union, demands his UC job back". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
32. McCormack, Simon (July 31, 2015). "Police Union Files Grievance To Get Ray Tensing His Job Back". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
33. Kutner, Max (August 5, 2015). "Cincinnati Indictment Raises Fears About Campus Police". Newsweek. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
34. Thomas, Dexter (July 30, 2015). "Footage of police shooting of Sam DuBose in Cincinnati evokes disturbing video game". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
35. King, Shaun (July 28, 2015). "The video of police killing of Sam Dubose is apparently so bad, Cincinnati is preparing for riots". The Daily Kos. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
36. "At least 983 Black Lives Matter demonstrations have been held in the last 376 days". Elephrame. July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
37. "6 arrested in rally honoring Sam DuBose". WLWT-TV. Cincinnati, Ohio. August 1, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
38. "Ohio prosecutor's comments in fatal traffic stop shooting of Sam DuBose draw critics". The Chicago Tribune. August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
39. Horn, Dan; Sparling, Hannah (September 12, 2015). "UC report: Sam DuBose shooting 'entirely preventable'". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
40. Perez-Pena, Richard (September 11, 2015). "Ohio: Report Says Killing by Officer Was Preventable". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
41. http://www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/safety-reform/documents/Kroll%20Report%20of%20Investigation%208.31.2015.pdf
42. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/11/sam-dubose-shooting-independent-report
43. http://www.fox19.com/story/30273277/irate8-10-demands-to-uc
44. http://www.wlwt.com/news/irate-8-presents-list-of-demands-to-uc-officials/35866422
45. http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/colleges/uc-news/irate8-student-group-issues-set-of-demands-to-university-of-cincinnati-leaders

External links

• University of Cincinnati police report from Eric Weibel

• 2015 in Ohio
• 21st century in Cincinnati, Ohio
• African-American history in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Deaths by firearm in Ohio
• Law enforcement in Ohio
• People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States
• Protests in the United States
• Race and crime in the United States
• School police departments of the United States
• University of Cincinnati