COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A former police officer from Columbus, Ohio, Adam Coy, has been sentenced to a mandatory term of 15 years to life after being found guilty of murder for the shooting of Andre Hill, a Black man. The shooting occurred in December 2020, during a time of heightened national scrutiny over police violence against Black individuals. Hill was holding a cellphone and keys when he was shot by Coy.

During the incident, Coy fired four shots at Hill, asserting in court that he feared for his life, claiming to believe that Hill was holding a gun. However, prosecutors contended that Hill was complying with police commands and posed no threat to Coy at the time of the shooting.

On Monday, Coy, who has been undergoing treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, expressed his intent to appeal the verdict. In his statements to the court, he maintained, "I feel my actions were justified. I reacted the same way I had in hundreds of training scenarios. I drew and fired my weapon to stop a threat, protect myself and my partner."

Victim impact statements were presented during the sentencing, where Hill’s sisters and ex-wife painted a picture of him as a gentle and amiable individual, fondly referred to as "Big Daddy" by his grandchildren. This personal testimony sought to remind the court of Hill's humanity beyond the tragic circumstances of his death.

The incident was captured on police body camera footage, which showed Hill exiting the garage of a friend’s home, holding a cellphone in his left hand while his right hand remained obscured. Significantly, nearly ten minutes elapsed before officers on the scene provided any medical assistance to Hill after he was shot.

Coy was terminated from his position following the shooting, which added to a troubling pattern of fatal encounters between police and Black individuals in Columbus. Despite his termination, Coy had an extensive record of citizen complaints throughout his tenure; however, most of these complaints were ultimately ruled as unfounded. In light of the continuing incidents of police violence, the Mayor of Columbus subsequently took action to remove the police chief following a spate of similar shootings.

In a response to the tragedy of Hill’s death, the city reached a substantial $10 million settlement with Hill’s family. Additionally, Columbus enacted new legislation mandating that police officers render immediate medical aid to individuals who are injured during confrontations with law enforcement. This move reflects an ongoing effort to address systemic issues within the police force and to promote accountability in instances of use-of-force.