A police officer has been charged with murder in the United States after shooting a motorist dead during a routine traffic stop. Ohio officer Ray
ADVERTISEMENTA police officer has been charged with murder in the United States after shooting a motorist dead during a routine traffic stop.
Ohio officer Ray Tensing killed 43-year-old Samuel Dubose after pulling him over for a missing licence plate.
BREAKING: University of Cincinnati cop indicted for murder in death of Samuel Dubose http://t.co/biGWl0YvQ9pic.twitter.com/ox4acqAV2V
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) July 29, 2015
The 25-year-old officer claims he fired after being dragged by the car as it drove off.
But footage from his body camera appears to contradict his report.
Cincinatti prosecutor calls #SamDubose shooting 'most asinine act' made by an officer http://t.co/TBV5vPyPJ2pic.twitter.com/kCB3sfigVR
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) July 29, 2015
It shows the two having a respectful exchange, with tension escalating only shortly before shots were fired.
Ohio’s State Prosecutor is unequivocal in his condemnation:
“This is the most asinine act I have ever seen a police officer make,” Joe Deters told reporters. Totally unwarranted. It is an absolute tragedy that in the year 2015 that anyone would behave in this manner. It was senseless.”
Family and friends of Samuel Dubose gathered outside the courthouse in Cincinnati.
Samuel Dubose is the latest of a number of black people to die in police custody or during arrest in the United States.
Questions are being asked about the use of deadly force by police, particularly against minorities.