Ex-officer accused of murder in shooting of Andre Hill testifies he thought he saw a gun

A achromatic erstwhile Ohio constabulary serviceman charged pinch execution successful nan shooting of Andre Hill testified Monday that he fired 4 times aft he spotted what he thought was a metallic revolver successful nan Black man’s manus while Hill was emerging from a acheronian garage.

Former serviceman Adam Coy said he rolled complete Hill’s body, saw a heap of keys and realized location was nary gun.

“I knew astatine that constituent I made a mistake,” Coy told jurors while fighting backmost tears. “I was horrified. It was nan worst nighttime of my life.”

Coy, who served astir 20 years pinch nan Columbus constabulary unit and was fired aft nan shooting 4 years ago, testified he thought he was going to dice erstwhile he mistook nan keys for a gun.

Police assemblage camera footage showed Hill coming retired of nan car shed of a friend’s location holding up a cellphone successful his near hand, his correct manus not visible, seconds earlier Coy fatally changeable him. About 10 minutes passed earlier officers astatine nan segment began coming to nan assistance of Hill, who laic bleeding connected nan car shed floor. He was pronounced dormant astatine a hospital.

Weeks aft nan December 2020 shooting, nan politician forced retired nan constabulary chief amid a bid of high-profile fatal constabulary shootings of Black men and children. Columbus later reached a $10 cardinal settlement pinch Hill’s family, nan largest successful metropolis history. The Columbus City Council besides passed Andre’s Law, which requires constabulary officers to render contiguous aesculapian attraction to an injured suspect.

Prosecutors person said Hill had followed nan officer’s commands and was ne'er a threat to Coy, who besides is charged pinch reckless homicide and felonious battle and could look up to life successful situation if convicted of murder.

Coy had gone to nan vicinity to analyse a resident’s title astir personification successful a moving conveyance erstwhile he first encountered Hill sitting successful an SUV. Hill told Coy he was waiting connected a friend to travel outside.

The serviceman said he thought Hill seemed dismissive astatine first and past suspicious aft stepping to a location and knocking connected nan doorway earlier entering nan garage.

Coy said he mislaid show of Hill and suspected he mightiness beryllium trying to break into nan house. Coy utilized a flashlight to spot Hill successful nan car shed and told him to travel retired and show himself, nan serviceman testified.

When Hill walked toward him, Coy said he could not initially spot nan man’s correct manus and past saw what he thought was a revolver. He said he yelled, “Gun! Gun!” and past fired astatine Hill.

Family and friends said Hill — a begetter and grandfather — was devoted to his family and was a skilled tradesman who dreamed aft years of activity arsenic a cook and edifice head of 1 time owning his ain restaurant.

Coy had a lengthy history of complaints from residents, pinch much than 3 twelve revenge against him since he joined nan section successful 2002, according to his unit file. A twelve of nan complaints were for usage of force. All but a fewer were marked “unfounded” aliases “not sustained.”