Body Cam Footage Shows Columbus Police Fatally Shoot Donovan Lewis In Bed Within Seconds Of Entering His Room
On Tuesday (August 30), Columbus, Ohio police released body camera footage after an officer fatally shot a 20-year-old Black man within seconds of encountering him while attempting to serve an arrest warrant earlier that day.
WCMH reports that the video was released during a news conference and shows an officer firing at the man, who police identified as 20-year-old Donovan Lewis. He can be seen appearing to sit up in bed and raise a hand in the moments prior to being shot.
During the presser, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said that Officer Ricky Anderson fired his gun when Lewis appeared to raise a hand, which she says held a device appearing to be a “vape pen” and later was “found on the bed right next to him.” Police did not find a weapon.
"Donovan Lewis lost his life. As a parent, you know, I sympathize and I grieve with his mother," Bryant said. "As a community, I grieve with our community but we're gonna allow this investigation to take place.”
Columbus police say Anderson, who was assigned to the canine unit, was placed on leave as an investigation into the deadly shooting is ongoing.
WCMH reports that authorities had been attempting to serve a felony warrant at an apartment just before 2:30 a.m. when the deadly shooting unfolded. The body cam footage shows the moments leading up to the incident after officers arrived at the apartment and officers knocking on the front door before a man eventually answers and is taken into custody.
Another man discovered inside the entrance of the apartment was also reportedly detained.
Upon further investigating the apartment, officers are then seen approaching a back bedroom door. Gripping a canine officer’s collar in one hand, Anderson pushes the door open with the other before firing his weapon seconds later.
Police say officers attempted to provide aid to Lewis until medics arrived on scene and transported him to a hospital. He was pronounced dead at 3:19 a.m.
Bryant said the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will be investigating the fatal shooting as is Columbus policy of any officer-involved shooting in the city in which someone is injured or killed, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
