Ohio Ok-9 officer is charged with homicide within the demise of a 20-year-old Black man shot in his mattress

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former Ok-9 officer has been indicted in Ohio on homicide costs within the demise of a Black man who was mendacity on his mattress when he was shot by police making an attempt to serve a warrant.

Former Columbus police officer Ricky Anderson was additionally charged Friday with reckless murder by a county grand jury within the August 2022 demise of 20-year-old Donovan Lewis.

A lawyer for the sufferer’s household — who earlier known as the capturing “barbaric” — stated the household was relieved however questioned why it took almost a yr to convey costs in opposition to Anderson, who’s white. Bodycam footage seems to indicate that the capturing occurred inside a second or much less of Anderson opening the door to a bed room the place Lewis was sleeping.

“We’re relieved {that a} grand jury concluded what we’ve recognized all alongside: Officer Ricky Anderson broke the regulation when he shot and killed an unarmed Donovan Lewis as he laid in his mattress. CPD (Columbus Police Division) bodycam video confirmed this clearly and nothing has modified in nearly a yr,” lawyer Rex Elliott stated in an announcement.

Elliott had earlier questioned why the town had not addressed the broader problem of white officers killing Black civilians.

“What number of extra lives are going to be misplaced to such a reckless exercise? What number of extra younger Black lives can be misplaced?” he requested at a press convention with Lewis’ household final yr.

Anderson’s protection lawyer, Mark C. Collins, stated the grand jury didn’t have the total image of the details, however solely a “dog-and-pony present … managed by the particular prosecutors.”

“This case isn’t about if Ricky Anderson made the choice to make use of lethal drive, however why he made the choice to make use of lethal drive. As we progress by means of litigation, the proof will present that it was as a result of he was justified in doing so,” Collins stated Friday in an announcement.

Elliott had earlier criticized the velocity of the capturing and recommendations by the police chief that Lewis had one thing in his hand when he was shot. No weapon was discovered.

“There’s completely no method within the timeframe between when the door was opened and the gun was fired that Officer Anderson perceived a possible gun in his hand, bought by means of to his mind, after which reacted by capturing his weapon,” Elliott stated.

Columbus police say officers had gone to the house round 2 a.m. to arrest Lewis on a number of warrants together with home violence, assault and felony improper dealing with of a firearm. Police took two different males within the house into custody with out incident. A police canine was unleashed within the house through the search.