Jump to content

Killing of Donovan Lewis

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Killing of Donovan Lewis
DateAugust 30, 2022 (2022-08-30)
LocationColumbus, Ohio
TypeShooting
ParticipantsRicky Anderson
DeathsDonovan Lewis

On August 30, 2022, 20-year-old African-American man Donovan Lewis (born (2002-05-14)May 14, 2002) was shot and killed by Officer Ricky Anderson of the Columbus Division of Police (CDP) in the Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio as officers served a warrant at his apartment. Police were serving a warrant against Lewis for domestic violence against his pregnant girlfriend, assault and improper handling of a firearm. After officers detained two men at the apartment, police opened the door to Lewis's bedroom, after which point Anderson fired a single shot at Lewis who was laying in bed.[1]

Incident

[edit]

At about 2:00 AM on August 30, 2022, Columbus Police served a warrant at Lewis's apartment in the Hilltop neighborhood for improperly handling a firearm, assault, and domestic violence.[2] Officers knocked on the front door for eight to ten minutes before a resident of the apartment opened the door. Police detained him and another resident. Police released a canine unit which walked into the kitchen before approaching and barking at Lewis's bedroom door. Officer Ricky Anderson, a 30-year veteran of the department, opened the bedroom door and almost immediately fired once, hitting Lewis. Police claim Lewis was holding a vape pen in his hands but it is not visible in the recording. Lewis is then handcuffed by Officers Knox and Dodrill, who were present at the scene.[3] Police carried him outside the apartment, where they performed CPR.[4] Lewis was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead.[1][5][6]

Investigation

[edit]

Body camera footage of the shooting was released the same day as the shooting, along with footage of two recent non-fatal Columbus Police shootings.[7] The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.[8]

On October 25, the Franklin County Coroner's Office ruled Lewis' death a homicide.[9]

On March 3, 2023, Anderson retired from the CDP "in bad standing", due to the ongoing investigations into Lewis's death.[10]

On August 4th, Anderson was indicted on charges of Reckless Homicide and murder.

Reaction

[edit]

Protests were held outside the Columbus Police headquarters on September 2.[11][12][13]

Lewis's family hired attorney Rex Elliott of Cooper Elliot Personal Injury Lawyers.[14] A press conference was held at a downtown Columbus hotel on September 1.[15][16] Lewis' family sued Anderson and four other officers for $25,000.[3]

The Brady Campaign and the NAACP released statements condemning the shooting.[17][18]

On September 7, the Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the department would no longer execute pre-planned arrest warrants at private homes for misdemeanor offenses unless it is approved by a lieutenant or someone with a higher authority. The change does not apply to SWAT or task force personnel.[19]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Musa, Amanda; Andone, Dakin; Watson, Michelle (September 1, 2022). "Body camera video shows a Columbus, Ohio, police officer fatally shooting an unarmed 20-year-old Black man". CNN. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  2. ^ Walker, Micah (September 1, 2022). "Donovan Lewis shooting: What we know about fatal police shooting". Yahoo! News. The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Lewis v. Anderson, Knox, Dorsey, Randall, Dodrill (Court of Franklin County, Ohio), Text.
  4. ^ "Attorney: Family 'anticipates filing action' against Columbus officer who fatally shot Donovan Lewis". WBNS CBS 10. September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  5. ^ Yang, Maya (August 31, 2022). "Ohio officer kills 20-year-old Black man seconds after opening his bedroom door". The Guardian. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  6. ^ Comer, Natalie; Clay, Jarrod (August 30, 2022). "Man shot and killed by officer serving arrest warrant in Hilltop, BCI investigating". ABC 6. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Clay, Jarrod (August 30, 2022). "Columbus police release body-cam videos from 3 police shootings in last 8 days". ABC 6. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Brunet, Bethany (August 31, 2022). "Ohio police fatally shoot unarmed Black man in bed during failed arrest attempt, video shows". USA Today. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "Death of Donovan Lewis ruled a homicide". ABC 6. October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  10. ^ "Columbus police officer who killed Donovan Lewis retires in bad standing". 10TV. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  11. ^ Siefert, Kate (September 1, 2022). "Protests planned in Columbus demanding justice for Donovan Lewis". ABC 6. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Bruner, Bethany (September 2, 2022). "Donovan Lewis' family: Keep protests peaceful, focus on change". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  13. ^ "Protesters gather at Columbus police headquarters after fatal Donovan Lewis shooting". ABC 6. September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  14. ^ "Fatal police shooting of Donovan Lewis". CooperElliot.com. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  15. ^ "Police killing of Black man in Ohio 'senseless', lawyer says". Al Jazeera. September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  16. ^ Stoia, Lu Ann (September 1, 2022). "Donovan Lewis' family demands police reform after deadly Columbus police shooting". ABC 6. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "NAACP President Johnson Statement on Shooting Death of Donovan Lewis". NAACP. September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  18. ^ "BRADY JOINS CALLS FOR JUSTICE FOR DONOVAN LEWIS; DEMANDS INVESTIGATION INTO COLUMBUS POLICE SHOOTINGS AND USE OF LETHAL FORCE". Brady United. August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  19. ^ "Columbus police policy change puts restrictions on serving warrants overnight" (September 8, 2022). WBNS CBS 10. September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Killing_of_Donovan_Lewis&oldid=1255777550"