Update: University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and manslaughter in court Thursday. Tensing was charged yesterday in the death of Sam DuBose, a 43-year-old African- American man who was shot and killed during a traffic stop on July 19. A judge set Tensing's bond at one million dollars.
This story was originally published on July 29, 2015.
University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing has been indicted for the murder of Sam DuBose, 43, an African American man killed in a traffic stop on July 19. Tensing, 25, is expected to be arrested later today and could face life in prison if convicted. He's the first officer in the city’s history to be charged with murder for shooting a civilian while working. "He purposely killed him," Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said in a fiercely critical statement on Officer Tensing. "He should never have been a police officer." Deters went on to say that this is undoubtedly a murder, and called Tensing’s account of the incident into question, along with the reason Tensing stopped DuBose in the first place. Tensing initially said he'd been dragged by DuBose's car, but today, the prosecutor said that was incorrect and that Tensing had fallen backwards after shooting DuBose. Video of the incident exists, but Deters says he's withholding it as they compare it to Tensing's account of the shooting. City officials have taken precautions aimed at maintaining peace: The University of Cincinnati cancelled classes today in anticipation of the indictment announcement, and Ohio Highway Patrol troopers arrived on campus early Wednesday morning. Police are also preparing for potential protests and discord. DuBose was buried on Tuesday. "I want them to go to jail. I want them locked up," his mother, Audrey DuBose, told local reporters. "There is no justice if someone can get away with murder and walk away.”
University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing has been indicted for the murder of Sam DuBose, 43, an African American man killed in a traffic stop on July 19. Tensing, 25, is expected to be arrested later today and could face life in prison if convicted. He's the first officer in the city’s history to be charged with murder for shooting a civilian while working. "He purposely killed him," Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said in a fiercely critical statement on Officer Tensing. "He should never have been a police officer." Deters went on to say that this is undoubtedly a murder, and called Tensing’s account of the incident into question, along with the reason Tensing stopped DuBose in the first place. Tensing initially said he'd been dragged by DuBose's car, but today, the prosecutor said that was incorrect and that Tensing had fallen backwards after shooting DuBose. Video of the incident exists, but Deters says he's withholding it as they compare it to Tensing's account of the shooting. City officials have taken precautions aimed at maintaining peace: The University of Cincinnati cancelled classes today in anticipation of the indictment announcement, and Ohio Highway Patrol troopers arrived on campus early Wednesday morning. Police are also preparing for potential protests and discord. DuBose was buried on Tuesday. "I want them to go to jail. I want them locked up," his mother, Audrey DuBose, told local reporters. "There is no justice if someone can get away with murder and walk away.”