Body-cam video in motorist’s fatal shooting to be released
Jul 29, 2015, 9:30 AM
Mourners Shanicca Soloman cries in the embrace of friend Terrell Whitney outside funeral services for Samuel Dubose at the Church of the Living God in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, Tuesday, July 28, 2015. Dubose was fatally shot by a University of Cincinnati police officer who stopped him for a missing license plate. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
(AP Photo/John Minchillo)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Video from a University of Cincinnati police officer’s fatal shooting of a motorist during a traffic stop will be released Wednesday, and an attorney for the officer said he expects it’s likely his client will be indicted, “given the political climate” and comments from city officials.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters planned to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. to discuss developments in the investigation into the July 19 shooting of 43-year-old motorist Samuel DuBose by Officer Ray Tensing.
DuBose’s family had been pressing for the release of the body-camera video, and news organizations including The Associated Press had sued Deters to get it released under Ohio open records law.
The University of Cincinnati on Wednesday closed its main campus in anticipation of grand jury action in the case.
DuBose’s death came 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 is part of their investigation.
Tensing’s attorney, Stewart Mathews, said Wednesday morning that he thought an indictment was likely “given the political climate” and comments made by city officials. But Mathews said given the evidence he’s seen, he doesn’t believe there should be an indictment.
Tensing has said he was dragged by DuBose’s car and forced to shoot after he pulled over DuBose for a missing front license plate, according to a university police report. Tensing said in his radio call to a dispatcher that the car almost ran over him and he fired one shot, striking DuBose in the head.
Deters had said earlier he wouldn’t release body-camera footage until his investigation is completed and said he didn’t want to taint a grand jury process.
In comments to reporters after DuBose’s funeral Tuesday, his mother said she wants justice for him and believes his family has a right to see the video.
“I would like for some answers,” Audrey DuBose said. “I’m not receiving any.”
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Associated Press writer Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.
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