Ex-officer who mistook a Black man's keys and phone for a gun gets 15
years to life for murder
[July 29, 2025]
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A former Ohio police officer convicted of
murder in the shooting of Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a
cellphone and keys when he was killed, was given a mandatory sentence
Monday of 15 years to life.
Former Columbus officer Adam Coy shot Hill four times in a garage in
December 2020, as the country reckoned with a series of police killings
of Black men, women and children. He told jurors that he feared for his
life because he thought Hill was holding a silver revolver. |
 This
image from video provided by WSYX/WTTE shows former Columbus police
officer Adam Coy, who is accused of fatally shooting Andre Hill, a Black
man who was holding a cell phone and keys, during his trial, Monday,
Oct. 28, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (WSYX/WTTE via AP, File) |
|
Coy, who is being treated for Hodgkin lymphoma, told the court
Monday he plans to appeal the verdict.
“I feel my actions were justified,” Coy said. “I reacted the
same way I had in hundreds of training scenarios. I drew and
fired my weapon to stop a threat, protect myself and my
partner."
Prosecutors said Hill followed police commands and was never a
threat to Coy.
In victim impact statements Monday, Hill’s sisters and ex-wife
described the 47-year-old as a gentle man who had never met a
stranger. His grandchildren called him “Big Daddy."
Police body camera footage showed Hill coming out of the garage
of a friend’s house holding up a cellphone in his left hand, his
right hand not visible, seconds before he was fatally shot.
Almost 10 minutes passed before officers at the scene rendered
aid.
Coy, who was fired afterward, had a lengthy history of citizen
complaints, although most were declared unfounded. Weeks later,
the mayor forced out the police chief after a series of fatal
police shootings of Black people.
Columbus later reached a $10 million settlement with Hill’s
family, and the city passed a law requiring police to give
immediate medical attention to injured suspects.
The local Fraternal Order of Police chapter said it would
continue to support Coy, for both his sake and that of every
officer who “acts in good faith” under department protocols.
“While this incident was a heart-rending mistake, it wasn’t
murder,” said Brian Steel, president of FOP Capital City Lodge
9.
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