COLUMBUS, Ohio – Forward of a Saturday funeral for Donovan Lewis, the 20-year-old unarmed man who was fatally shot by a Columbus police officer on Aug. 30, town’s police chief issued a coverage change for late-night warrants.
Columbus police officer Ricky Anderson fatally shot Lewis throughout an tried arrest. Lewis, who was wished on costs of home violence, assault and improper dealing with of a firearm, was in mattress on the time of the taking pictures.
Physique digicam footage confirmed Anderson draw his weapon earlier than opening the bed room door. After an officer yells “Arms!” and shines a light-weight on Lewis as he sits up in mattress, Anderson fires a single shot.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant mentioned Lewis had what seemed to be a vape pen in his hand throughout the taking pictures.
The Ohio Bureau of Legal Investigation is probing the taking pictures. Anderson, a 30-year police veteran who was assigned to the canine unit, and three different officers have been positioned on administrative depart.
The taking pictures sparked protests throughout Columbus as demonstrators demanded police accountability.
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On Thursday, Bryant issued an inner memo altering the division’s coverage on serving warrants in a single day on sure wished suspects within the wake of the deadly taking pictures.
Efficient instantly, no preplanned arrest warrants could also be served by Columbus police at non-public residences between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. for misdemeanor warrants — together with home violence — or nonviolent felony warrants except authorised by a lieutenant or greater rank, in keeping with the inner memo.
A preplanned warrant is one the place the only real motive an officer goes to an deal with is to serve a warrant, Bryant mentioned. The change in coverage doesn’t apply to the SWAT or different tactical items, she mentioned.
Bryant issued the inner memo about an hour after the beginning of a information convention in entrance of Columbus Metropolis Corridor, the place Rex Elliott, an legal professional representing Lewis’s household, known as for an finish to in a single day warrant serves.
Elliott mentioned the apply ought to finish “except there’s harmful, exigent circumstances.”
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Columbus police didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark concerning the timing of the coverage change.
Elliott advised the Columbus Dispatch, a part of the USA TODAY Community, that the short motion by the police chief is a “good first step” that offers hope for change inside the police division.
“It is a begin, nevertheless it’s a transparent admission that what occurred that evening was pointless and avoidable,” Elliott mentioned.
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In the meantime, a funeral service for Lewis was deliberate for midday Saturday. Lewis’s household is predicted to talk, and a minister from the All Nations Worship Meeting in Columbus will give the eulogy.
Westerville Central Excessive Faculty, situated northeast of Columbus, held a second of silence earlier than a Friday soccer sport. Lewis graduated from the college in 2020 and was a center linebacker and tight finish for the soccer group.
