Body camera video released from University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing shows the officier instantly shooting 43-year-old Samuel Debose in the head — without provocation.
via The New York Times::
Mr. DuBose, 43, a father of 10, was just south of the university campus, driving a green 1998 Honda Accord without a front license plate, when Officer Tensing began following him, according to an account that Jason Goodrich, chief of the university police, gave on Monday. Moments later, the officer pulled Mr. Dubose over on a side street, a few blocks from the campus, Mr. Goodrich said.
He said that when Officer Tensing asked for a driver’s license, Mr. DuBose handed him a bottle of alcohol instead. But Mr. Goodrich gave no more insight into the confrontation that followed, in which the officer fired one shot that struck Mr. Dubose in the head.
Another university officer who arrived shortly after the shooting, Eric Weibel, wrote in his report that Officer Tensing told him that “he was being dragged by the vehicle and had to fire his weapon,” and that “Officer Tensing stated that he was almost run over.” A third officer, he wrote, said he had seen Officer Tensing being dragged.
“Looking at Officer Tensing’s uniform, I could see that the back of his pants and shirt looked as if it had been dragged over a rough surface,” Officer Weibel wrote.
On an audio recording of police radio communications, after Officer Tensing shouted “Shots fired! Shots fired,” a dispatcher asked who was injured. It is not clear if he replied “I am injured” or “I’m uninjured.”
“I almost got run over by the car,” the officer said. “He took off on me. I discharged one round. Shot the man in the head.”
Another officer can later be heard saying “It was Officer Tensing that was injured.”
As you can see in the clip below, the officers’ stories are completely inaccurate. Ray Tensing has officially been charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter. He faces life in prison if convicted.
“We’re going to treat him as a murderer,” Deters said before Tensing surrendered at court.
Cincinnati mayor John Cranley told reporters the city was preparing for further protests following the expected announcement.
“I think we’re prepared. Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate lawlessness,” said Cranley.
We’re glad that Tensing has been charged, but it’s frightening to think that had this body cam footage not been available we’d be relying on the officer’s testimony of what happened — which is a complete lie.
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