Former Ohio police officer found guilty of murder in Andre Hill shooting

A white former police officer who killed a black man as he exited a garage in Columbus, Ohio, four years ago was found guilty of murder on Monday.

Adam Coy, 48, faces life in prison for fatally shooting 47-year-old Andre Hill on December 22, 2020.

Coy was found guilty by a jury on all three counts: murder, involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault.

Hill was shot at after Coy responded to a report of a vehicle turning on and off around 1:30 a.m. Coy had instructed Hill to leave the garage of a home he believed had been broken into.

Investigators later learned that Hill was a guest of the homeowner.

Columbus police fired Coy shortly after the shooting, and the city reached a $10 million settlement with Hill's family in 2021.

During the trial, Coy testified that he mistakenly believed Hill had a revolver in his hand when he fired four shots.

“I thought I was going to die,” Coy said in court, adding that he believed Hill was holding a revolver in his right hand when he confronted him in the driveway.

It turned out Hill had a bunch of keys in his hand.

“I said 'f—'. At that point I knew I had made a mistake,” Coy testified.

Defense attorney Kaitlyn Stephens argued that the shooting was a mistake, that Coy feared for his life and that he had completed his police training.

Owning a gun is irrelevant and mistakes happen, Stephens said in court, adding that Hill's hand had a steely sheen.

Prosecutor Anthony Pierson countered under cross-examination that Coy could have determined whether Hill was dangerous by asking for identification, talking to the homeowners or checking to see if there were any outstanding warrants for Hill's arrest.

“The fact was that you shot an unarmed man and then made up that story later to cover yourself up,” Pierson said.

According to NBC affiliate WCMH in Columbus, there were several delays in the start of the trial because Coy was being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.