*Justice. Maybe.
We’re referring to news that Wednesday morning a University of Cincinnati police officer who shot a motorist during a July 19 traffic stop over a missing front license plate has been indicted on murder charges.
The Hamilton County, Ohio Prosecutor Joe Deters said that the officer “purposely killed him” and “should never have been a police officer.”
Deters announced the grand jury indictment at a news conference to discuss developments in the investigation into the shooting of 43-year-old Samuel DuBose by Officer Ray Tensing.
Authorities have said Tensing spotted a car driven by DuBose and missing the front license plate, which is required by Ohio law. They say Tensing stopped the car and a struggle ensued after DuBose refused to provide a driver’s license and get out of the car.
Tensing has said he was dragged by the car and forced to shoot at DuBose. He fired one shot, striking DuBose in the head.
Only problem is the video from Officer Tensing’s body cam clearly shows that his statement is a flat out lie. Not only that, but the Prosecutor Deters suggested that DuBose shouldn’t have been pulled over in the first place.
“He fell backward after he shot (DuBose) in the head,” Deters said, adding that it was a “chicken crap” traffic stop.
Meanwhile, Tensing’s attorney, Stewart Mathews said earlier Wednesday that he thought an indictment was likely “given the political climate” and comments made by city officials. But it will come as no surprise that Mathews also said given the evidence he’s seen, he doesn’t believe there should be an indictment.
DuBose’s death comes amid months of national scrutiny of police dealings with African-Americans, especially those killed by officers. DuBose was black. Tensing is white. Authorities haven’t indicated whether race was a part of the investigation.
Body-camera video of the shooting was also released Wednesday. DuBose’s family had been pressing for its release, and news organizations including The Associated Press had sued Deters to get it released under Ohio open records law, but Deters released it before any ruling had been made.
Deters called the shooting “senseless” and “asinine.”
“He purposely killed him,” Deters said. “He should never have been a police officer.”
Watch the murder:
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