The girlfriend of Donovan Lewis holds a picture of him during a rally at the Columbus Division of Police Headquarters on Sept. 2, 2022.Photo:Gaelen Morse/Getty Images
Gaelen Morse/Getty Images
A former police officer in Ohio who killed an unarmed Black man in his bed last year has been charged with murder and reckless homicide, according to multiple news outlets.
“The bottom line is he should still be here and I’m going to be grieving that for the rest of my life," Duran added.
On Aug. 30, 2022, Anderson shot and killed Lewis as officers served a search warrant at Lewis’ apartment, ABC News reports. Lewis had been wanted on multiple felony charges including domestic violence, assault and improper handling of a firearm.
Police body camera footage reportedly shows Anderson opening Lewis’ bedroom door before almost immediately shooting once. Lewis, who was asleep in bed, died at a local hospital.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at a news conference last year that in the footage, it appeared Lewis was holding “something” in his hand, which turned out to be a vape pen, CNN reports.
Ricky Anderson.Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
“CPD bodycam video showed this clearly and nothing has changed in almost a year. Although Mr. Lewis' family is pleased that his killer will soon face a jury of his peers, they are incredibly disappointed that it took so long to come to this conclusion in the first place,” the statement said.
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Lewis' family has also taken legal action against Anderson and the other officers who raided his apartment. In a civil suit filed in February, Lewis’ family argued that the body camera footage shows Lewis “never extended or raised his arm as if holding a weapon,” and “did not present any threat to any of the officers,” according to CNN.
It’s unclear if Anderson has entered a plea.
Mark Collins, an attorney for Anderson, told ABC News last year, “When we analyze police-involved shootings, we must look to the totality of the circumstances, and we are expressly forbidden from using 20/20 hindsight, because unlike all of us, officers are not afforded the luxury of armchair reflection when they are faced with rapidly evolving, volatile encounters in dangerous situations."
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source: people.com
