A former police officer in Columbus, Ohio, has been indicted on murder and reckless homicide charges for the shooting of a young Black man last year. The incident occurred during a search warrant, where the officer shot and killed the man while he was unarmed and in bed. The release of body camera footage last September showed the officer opening fire almost immediately after the bedroom door was opened. The victim, Donovan Lewis, later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. The officer, Ricky Anderson, retired in bad standing a few months after the shooting.
The grand jury’s decision aligns with what Lewis’ family and their attorneys have maintained all along – that Anderson unlawfully shot and killed an unarmed man who was lying in his bed. The family expressed relief that Anderson will now face a jury trial but expressed disappointment in the length of time it took to reach this conclusion.
At the time of the shooting, police officers were executing a warrant to arrest Donovan Lewis on criminal charges that included domestic violence, assault, and improper handling of a firearm. However, the encounter turned fatal when Officer Anderson opened fire on Lewis, who was unarmed at the time. The body camera footage clearly showed the events leading up to the shooting, leaving little room for interpretation.
Lewis’ family filed a civil suit against Officer Anderson and four other officers involved in the raid in February. The complaint alleges that Anderson had a history of complaints, including use of force and sexual harassment while on duty. The family’s lawyers emphasized their commitment to pursuing justice and accountability in both the criminal and civil cases.