A University of Cincinnati police officer who claimed he shot and killed a man after he was dragged by the man’s car, causing him to fear for his life, was charged with murder today in what a prosecutor called a “senseless, asinine” shooting.
“He purposely killed him.” Prosecutor Joe Deters said during a news conference today. “He should never have been a police officer.”
However, officer Ray Tensing, who shot and killed Sam Dubose on July 19, has yet to turn himself in.
Deters decision was based on Tensing’s body cam footage which is said to be so appalling that he was reluctant to release it, fearing riots.
But he ended up releasing the video, which is posted below. The video goes black towards the end. We are working on obtaining the full video as well as video from the other officers on the scene.
According to the Washington Post:
The University of Cincinnati had said that it was canceling classes Wednesday out of “an abundance of caution” due to the expected announcement of a grand jury decision and release of footage capturing the shooting.
“Could you imagine the outrage you would have if this was your kid, if this was your brother, over a stop like this?” Deters said. “And he didn’t do anything violent towards the officer. He wasn’t dragging him. And he pulled out his gun and intentionally shot him in the head.”
Tensing had pulled Dubose over because he did not have a front license plate, but it did not appear as if he had a drivers license.
However, Dubose offered to give him his name, insisting he did have a valid drivers license, just did not have it with him at that moment.
Tensing then ordered him to take his seat belt off and started opening the car door, which was when Dubose drove off.
That was when Tensing pointed his gun at point-blank range and shot him in the face before falling backwards.
Dubose’s car came to a stop about a half-block down the street, appearing to have crashed into a sign.
Beneath the video of the shooting, there is a video of the prosecutor’s press conference along with another video from last year where a University of Cincinnati cop who appears to be Tensing detaining two men who are questioning the legality of the detainment.
Read a police report from the shooting here.
UPDATE: Watch the full video on WCPO. Video is also embedded below.
Tensing can be heard telling another cop, “I thought he was going to run me over.”
UPDATE II: Tensing has turned himself in. Unlike a typical murder suspect, he was not handcuffed.
He faces between 15 years to life in prison if convicted for the murder charge. He also faces at least 11 years in prison if convicted for manslaughter, another charge he is facing.
Deters said he is seeking a life sentence against the cop.
