Former Columbus Police Officer Adam Coy has been indicted on murder charges following the death of Andre Hill, the Ohio attorney general’s office announced on Wednesday.
Coy, indicted Wednesday, faces charges of murder, felonious assault and two count of dereliction of duty.
Coy’s charges stem from a December 2020 incident. The former Columbus officer, accompanied by another officer, was responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle being turned on and off in the street, when the pair found Hill sitting inside the vehicle. Hill then walked toward the officers while holding a cell phone. Coy then shot Hill, who was struck four times.
“Mr. Hill was known to the residents of the home where his car was parked on the street and he was an expected guest. He was not an intruder,” said Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther at a press conference after the shooting.
Hill, 47, died of his injuries.
The Columbus Division of Police said it was “aware of the grand jury’s decision” and would “continue to fully cooperate with the Ohio Attorney’s General Office and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.”
Coy was fired from his position in the department in December, a decision defended by Police Chief Tom Quinlan.
“Like all of you, I witness [Coy’s] critical misconduct firsthand via his body-worn camera. I have seen everything I need to see to reach the conclusion that Officer Coy must be terminated immediately,” Quinlan said at the time “Some may call this a rush to judgement. It is not. We have an officer who violated his oath to comply with the rules and policies of Columbus Division of Police, and the consequences of those violations are so great it requires immediate action. This violation cost an innocent man his life.”
Coy has been taken into custody and awaits arraignment.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.