Columbus, OH — A Franklin County jury convicted a former Columbus police officer of murder this week in the case of Andre Hill, a Black man who was shot and killed during an incident while he was unarmed. The verdict given was the first of its kind in the city where a Columbus officer was found guilty of murder connected to actions taken in the line of duty.
Adam Coy, 48, faced charges for the December 22, 2020, shooting that resulted in the death of 47-year-old Andre Hill. Besides murder, Coy was also found guilty of felonious assault and reckless homicide. The jury decided on these charges after hearing days of testimony and deliberating over the course of about two days.
During the trial, Coy’s defense maintained that he shot Hill because he feared for his life. However, evidence and prosecutorial arguments stressed that Hill was not armed and presented no threat to the officers at the scene. Coy faces at least 15 years to life in prison. His sentencing is set for November 25, delayed by the judge to allow time for his legal team to prepare.
The fatal encounter took place when Coy responded to a non-emergency call about a vehicle that had been turning on and off for several hours. At around 1:30 a.m. on the mentioned date, Coy and another officer encountered Hill, who was steps away from his SUV. Coy testified that Hill walked to a nearby doorway and knocked, receiving no response, and subsequently returned to his vehicle.
Tension escalated when Coy saw Hill emerge from an open garage and erroneously yelled “Gun, gun, he has a gun!” before discharging his weapon four times. The suspected gun turned out to be merely Hill’s key ring, and Hill’s other hand was holding a cellphone. Coy, who failed to activate his body camera, inadvertently recorded the shooting without audio due to an automatic “look-back” feature.
The city dispatched Coy in less than a week after the incident. Although jurors were not presentaed evidence regarding the lack of immediate medical aid Hill received post-shooting, the incident led to significant repercussions. In response to Hill’s death, Columbus adopted “Andre’s Law,” mandating that officers provide immediate medical attention. Additionally, enhancements were made to body camera technology within the Columbus Police Department.
Furthermore, the city negotiated a $10 million civil settlement with Hill’s family, reflecting recognition of the gravity of the situation and the missteps made during and after the encounter. As this case garners attention, the community and law enforcement agencies alike are prompted to scrutinize and reform policing standards and practices. The outcomes of this case may also drive further legislative and procedural changes in law enforcement protocols nationwide to prevent incidents of this nature in the future.