University Of Cincinnati Officer Pleads Not Guilty To Murder Charge

A fired University of Cincinnati police officer charged with murder in the shooting of a motorist during a traffic stop once used a stun gun on another motorist he said resisted arrest and assaulted him.

Audrey Dubose speaks to reporters immediately after the announcement of an indictment for officer Ray Tensing in the shooting death of her son Samuel Dubose. “He should have never been a police officer“.

Tensing, who was on administrative leave, has reportedly turned himself in. Few other details are in the records.

“He’s been crucified since this thing first happened by the whole community without knowing what the evidence is”, said Tensing’s attorney, Stewart Matthews.

The judge set a hearing on the Tensing case for August 19.

Officer Ray Tensing, 25, appeared at his arraignment Thursday wearing a striped jail suit, with his hands cuffed behind him.

Prosecutors had asked for the $1 million bond.

“He wasn’t dealing with someone who was wanted for murder – he was dealing with someone with a missing license plate”, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters said while announcing the charges Wednesday. Prosecutors have claimed that the officer “purposely killed” the 43-year-old Dubose during the stop, dismissing Tensing’s claim that he feared for his life and that he was being dragged by Dubose’s vehicle.

The case comes as the United States grapples with heightened racial tensions in the wake of a series of high-profile incidents of unarmed African Americans being killed by police in disputed circumstances.

DuBose’s family and friends were in the courtroom when Tensing was arraigned Thursday morning; and a cheer went up from the gallery when Shanahan ordered the $1 million bond. Authorities so far have not focused on race in the death.

The indictment also included a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

The University of Cincinnati police officer appeared in court in prison stripes and handcuffs. Tensing was indicted Wednesday, July 29 on a murder charge.

Mathews said that Tensing thought he could reach into the auto and get the key out of the ignition and stop DuBose from leaving.

Tensing’s initial court appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday. The former officer said he was forced to fire his weapon, but officials released video footage of the shooting caught on Tensing’s body camera on Wednesday that shed new light on the incident.

Deters added. “And he didn’t do anything violent towards the officer”.

DuBose’s death is the latest in a string of controversial killings of people by police that include Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Michael Brown in Ferguson, and Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina.