Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan said on Thursday that he has filed two department cases for critical misconduct against Coy, and stated that administrative inquiries are underway regarding additional agents involved.
“Today is Christmas Eve. A time when we should be together with those we love,” said Quinlan. Andre Hill’s family has nothing to celebrate this holiday, someone very important will not be with them this holiday or any other. There’s a Columbus police officer responsible for that. And that breaks my heart. ‘
Quinlan said an officer’s discipline or dismissal would typically include a hearing before the police chief, but Coy would not receive one in this case after Quinlan viewed the camera footage of the shooting.
“I’ve seen everything I need to do to conclude that Agent Coy must be terminated immediately,” Quinlan said.
“Some call this a rush to judgment. It isn’t,” he added. “This transgression has cost an innocent man his life.”
Coy had been suspended after the shooting pending a preliminary investigation. Coy will be notified of the charges against him today, Quinlan said.
As part of the reasoning behind one of the allegations, Quinlan to Coy states in a memo obtained by CNN-affiliated WBNS: dereliction of duty, misconception, felony, and non-performance. “
CNN has contacted the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, representing the officer.
Quinlan said Coy will undergo a hearing before the director of public safety on Monday morning, where the director will decide on his recommendation to fire the officer
Coy and another officer who responded to the call on Tuesday were equipped with body cameras, but only turned them on after the shooting, the Department of Public Safety said. A feature of the body-worn camera technology used by the Columbus Police Department provides a 60-second retrospective but does not record audio during that period, so no conversation is heard before or during the recording.
Coy responded to the call shortly after 1:37 a.m., after an unidentified neighbor who called 911 reported that a man had been in his SUV for a long time and turned his engine on and off repeatedly.
When police arrived at the house, they found a garage door open and a man inside, city officials said.
The camera footage of the body captured from the 60-second throwback shows a flashlight illuminating Hill, walking next to a car to Coy’s cell phone in his left hand and his right hand invisible.
The officer retreats in seconds before firing his weapon and hitting Hill. When the audio turns on, Coy should order Hill to put his hands aside.
Hill died in the hospital just before 2:30 a.m. No weapon was found on the spot.
“I am a father and grandfather. I cannot comprehend the pain Andre Hill’s family is feeling right now,” Quinlan said at the end of his video statement on Thursday. “He was taken from them by violence. Preventable violence. Senseless violence. This didn’t have to happen, and it never should have happened. Andre Hill should be with his family this vacation. I ask this community for their arms. family. and pray with me for their comfort. “
CNN’s David J. Lopez, Laurie Ure, Jennifer Henderson and Jessica Flynn contributed to this report.