COLUMBUS, Ohio — A jury found former Columbus police officer Adam Coy guilty on all charges in the December 2020 shooting death of Andre Hill.
The jury deliberated for more than two days before finding Coy guilty of murder, reckless homicide and felonious assault.
They began deliberations on Thursday and continued on Friday and Monday morning before coming to their verdict around noon on Monday.
Sentencing for Coy will be held on Nov. 25.
Adam Coy is charged with murder, reckless homicide and felonious assault in the shooting death of Andre Hill on Dec. 22, 2020.
Coy testified in his own defense during the trial and said that he thought he saw a gun in Hill's hand that night. He said that after he fired four times, he realized Hill didn't have a gun.
“I knew at that point I made a mistake," Coy told jurors while fighting back tears. "I was horrified. It was the worst night of my life.”
Coy was fired after the December 2020 shooting. Columbus later reached a $10 million settlement with Hill’s family, the largest in city history.
Throughout the trial, the state argued Coy made up a story about being in imminent danger when he said he mistook the keys for a revolver.
"Mr. Coy said 'Come out, show yourself.' That's exactly what he did. He showed himself and then he was shot four times," Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Pierson said. "What matters is if a reasonable officer on the scene at the time would use deadly force. Evidence shows a reasonable officer would not."
The defense argued there's no way he made up a story because he yelled "gun" before shooting, then warned Officer Amy Detweiler not to get too close to Hill after the shooting because they hadn't found a gun.
"The judge will tell you the objectively reasonable officer can be mistaken, even if he had a mistaken belief. The judge is going to tell you that actual possession of a weapon is not relevant as long as the officer reasonably believes he possessed a weapon," defense attorney Mark Collins said.
Day-by-day breakdown of the murder trial
Nov. 4 — Deliberations resume, verdict reached
The jury resumed deliberations on Monday morning. They spent about 10 hours deliberating through Thursday and Friday before going home for the weekend. Around noon, the jury signaled they had reached a verdict. The jury found Coy guilty on all charges.
Nov. 1 — No verdict reached yet
The jury will be sent home for the weekend. They deliberated for several hours on Friday. They will resume deliberations on Monday.
Oct. 31 — Jury deliberations
The jury deliberated for about five hours on Thursday before being dismissed for the day around 3:30 p.m. Deliberations will resume on Friday.
Oct. 30 — Rebuttal witness, closing arguments
The state called use of force expert Seth Stoughton as a rebuttal witness after the defense rested its case.
Following Stoughton's testimony Wednesday afternoon, the prosecution and defense delivered their closing arguments. The judge gave the jury their instructions and they will begin deliberating on Thursday.
Oct. 29 — Use of force expert called to the stand, defense rests its case
Use of force expert and former Columbus police SWAT officer James Scanlon was called to the stand.
The defense has rested its case after cross-examination.
Oct. 28 — State rests its case, Adam Coy takes the stand in his own defense
The state filed a motion to limit the defense's expert testimony. The judge ruled that the experts could testify and demonstrate what is needed.
The defense requested the reckless homicide charge be dropped, arguing that the state did not prove its case. The judge ruled that the charges would remain based on the evidence presented that could make a case for reckless homicide.
The state rested its case. The defense is now presenting witnesses and experts to testify — the first being expert witness Kevin Davis.
Adam Coy took the stand after a lunch break to testify in his own defense.
Coy was emotional on the stand as he explained the moments leading up to the shooting.
Prosecutors questioned Coy on why he didn't ask Hill his name or call for backup if he was so concerned.
Coy explained that Hill only partially obeyed his commands and was hiding his right hand, then he saw a glint of silver, which he thought was a silver revolver. We now know those were keys and Hill did not have a weapon.
Oct. 25 — Witness testimonies continue
Columbus police officer Amy Detweiler continued her testimony while being questioned by the state. The jury reviewed the body-worn camera video from Detweiler and Coy.
Benjamin Branford, another Columbus police officer, and Paul Hill, a firefighter with the Upper Arlington Fire Department, were called to testify.
Ohio State Bureau of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Aja Chung was called to testify and describe photos she took from the scene.
Oct. 24 — Opening statements delivered, testimonies begin
Opening statements were delivered and testimony began. The neighbor who called 911 and the officer who responded with Coy each took the stand.
Oct. 23 — Jury selected
A jury has been chosen for the trial — seven men and nine women. The jury visited the site of the shooting at a home on Oberlin Drive.
Oct. 22 — Jury selection continued
There are still about 60 potential jurors left. They need 12 jurors and four alternates. The jury selection was planned to end on Tuesday but continued into Wednesday with the jury view happening later in the day.
Oct. 21 — Jury selection
About 25 potential jurors were dismissed Friday due to scheduling conflicts. 10TV's Lacey Crisp said about a dozen were dismissed Monday due to their opinions on the case or legal process.
What happened on Dec. 22, 2020?
Coy was called to Oberlin Avenue to investigate a disturbance. He said the complaint was for an SUV that was turning on and off repeatedly for several hours.
Police body camera footage showed Hill emerging from 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 by Coy. About 10 minutes passed before officers at the scene began coming to the aid of Hill, who lay bleeding on the garage floor. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
What happened after Andre Hill's death?
Weeks after the shooting, the mayor forced out the police chief amid a series of high-profile fatal police shootings of Black men and children. Columbus later reached a $10 million settlement with Hill’s family, the largest in city history. Columbus City Council also passed Andre’s Law, which requires police officers to render immediate medical attention to an injured suspect.
Coy had a lengthy history of complaints from residents, with more than three dozen filed against him since he joined the department in 2002, according to his personnel file. A dozen of the complaints were for use of force. All but a few were marked “unfounded” or “not sustained.”
Coy's legal team tried unsuccessfully to have the case moved out of Columbus, citing heavy publicity. A message was left for Collins, the defense lawyer, ahead of the trial.
Hill, a father and grandfather, was remembered for his devotion to family and as a skilled chef and restaurant manager who dreamed of owning his own eatery.
