Harrowing new video shows an Ohio cop fatally shooting a 20-year-old black man just seconds into their encounter as he raises his hand gripping what appears to be a vape pen.
The Columbus Division of Police has asked a state agency to investigate Tuesday’s officer-involved shooting, which claimed the life of Donovan Lewis.
At a news conference held just hours later, Police Chief Elaine Bryant played the body camera video, which begins with officers arriving at an apartment on Sullivan Avenue at around 2:30 a.m. to serve arrest warrants on Lewis, who was wanted on charges of assault, domestic violence and felony improperly handling a firearm.
Officers spend about 10 minutes waiting outside the front door before two men emerge from the unit and are detained, but there is initially no sign of Lewis.
Columbus, Ohio, K-9 officer Ricky Anderson is seen shooting suspect Donovan Lewis, 20, on Tuesday. Columbus PD
Police were looking to arrest Lewis on charges of assault, domestic violence and felony improper handling of a firearm.
Police then send in a barking K-9 dog and follow it into the home.
Moments later, canine handler Ricky Anderson opens the door to a bedroom, sees Lewis on the bed and immediately shoots him.
Bryant said a frame-by-frame review of the video shows that Lewis appears to have “something” in his hand, which he raises as the officer opens the door and trains his gun on him.
Bryant said no guns were found at the scene, but a vape pen was recovered from the bed.
After being shot, a dying Lewis was ordered to “crawl” from the bed, before he was placed in handcuffs and carried out of the apartment, reported the Columbus Dispatch.
Anderson, a 30-year veteran, opened fire a moment after seeing Lewis raise a hand clutching what may have been a vape pen. Columbus PD
No gun was found at the scene, but a vape pen was recovered from the bed. Columbus PDAfter having CPR administered to him at the scene, Lewis was taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he died within the hour.
The chief has not commented on whether police believed the item in Lewis’ hand was a weapon, which is something that the investigation launched by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is expected to address.
“Donovan Lewis lost his life. As a parent, you know, I sympathize and I grieve with his mother,” Bryant told reporters. “I grieve with our community but we’re gonna allow this investigation to take place.”
The chief, who was hired last year, stressed that the city was committed to holding officers responsible if there was any wrongdoing but the state investigation needed to play out first.
Anderson, a 30-year veteran of the department, has been placed on leave pending the outcome of the probe.
With Post wires
