Jury Finds Former CPD Officer Guilty of Andre Hill Murder
Source: STEPHEN ZENNER / Getty
A Franklin County jury has found former Columbus police officer Adam Coy guilty of murder, reckless homicide, and felonious assault in the 2020 fatal shooting of Andre Hill. Coy, 48, could face a prison sentence of 15 years to life. He will be sentenced by Judge Stephen McIntosh on November 25th.
The case’s focus was whether Coy’s use of force was “objectively reasonable,” rather than if he killed Hill. Unlike typical murder trials, jurors in use-of-force cases for police must assess an officer’s decision based on their knowledge at the moment, without hindsight.
Jurors deliberated for around 12 hours before delivering a guilty verdict on all charges. Members of both Hill’s and Coy’s families were visibly emotional as the verdict was read.
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What Happened?
The events leading to Hill’s death unfolded in the early hours of December 22, 2020. Adam Coy and another officer responded to a nonemergency call regarding a suspicious vehicle in the northside. Coy confronted Hill, who was exiting a garage with a lit phone in his left hand. Coy later testified that he thought Hill had a silver revolver in his right hand, which turned out to be a set of keys. He fired four shots, wounding Hill. Officers did not administer medical aid for over 10 minutes after the shooting. Andre Hill was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Following the incident, Coy was dismissed from the police force. In February 2021, he was initially charged with murder and felonious assault. An additional reckless homicide charge was added in April. Coy’s trial was delayed three times as he underwent treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It began on October 21st, nearly four years after Hill’s death.
The jury heard from 10 witnesses, including Coy and his partner on the night of the shooting. Law enforcement experts also testified, which provided differing views on whether Coy’s actions aligned with standard police practices. Jurors were not presented with previous complaints against Coy related to use of force due to evidentiary restrictions.
Coy’s defense argued that he had acted out of perceived threat and followed police training, reacting to what he believed was a deadly situation. Prosecutors contended that Coy’s actions were reckless and that other responses could have deescalated the situation without ending in Hill’s death.
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