Former Ohio officer Adam Coy’s murder trial begins

COLUMBUS, Ohio (ABC News): The murder trial of former Ohio police officer Adam Coy has begun, nearly three years after he fatally shot Andre Hill, an unarmed Black man, in December 2020. Coy, who was responding to a non-emergency call, encountered Hill emerging from a garage holding a cellphone. Body camera footage shows Coy firing within seconds of the encounter, without giving Hill any verbal warning or commands to stop.

The shooting sparked outrage and protests, leading to Coy's immediate dismissal from the Columbus Police Department. He has since been charged with murder, reckless homicide, and felonious assault. The prosecution argues that Coy acted recklessly and used unnecessary force in killing Hill, who posed no threat at the time of the shooting.

Coy's defense team is expected to argue that the former officer believed Hill was armed and acted in self-defense. The case is being closely watched as part of the ongoing national debate over police accountability and the use of force, particularly in cases involving people of color. Hill’s family has called for justice, stating that Hill’s death was entirely avoidable.

Full article here.