Killing of Donovan Lewis

On August 30, 2022, 20-year-old African-American man Donovan Lewis (born (2002-05-14)May 14, 2002) was shot and killed by Officer Ricky Anderson of the Columbus Division of Police (CDP) in the Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio as officers served a warrant at his apartment. Police were serving a warrant against Lewis for domestic violence against his pregnant girlfriend, assault and improper handling of a firearm. After officers detained two men at the apartment, police opened the door to Lewis's bedroom, after which point Anderson fired a single shot at Lewis who was laying in bed.[1]

Killing of Donovan Lewis
DateAugust 30, 2022 (2022-08-30)
LocationColumbus, Ohio
TypeShooting
ParticipantsRicky Anderson
DeathsDonovan Lewis

Incident

At about 2:00 AM on August 30, 2022, Columbus Police served a warrant at Lewis's apartment in the Hilltop neighborhood for improperly handling a firearm, assault, and domestic violence.[2] Officers knocked on the front door for eight to ten minutes before a resident of the apartment opened the door. Police detained him and another resident. Police released a canine unit which walked into the kitchen before approaching and barking at Lewis's bedroom door. Officer Ricky Anderson, a 30-year veteran of the department, opened the bedroom door and almost immediately fired once, hitting Lewis. Police claim Lewis was holding a vape pen in his hands but it is not visible in the recording. Lewis is then handcuffed by Officers Knox and Dodrill, who were present at the scene.[3] Police carried him outside the apartment, where they performed CPR.[4] Lewis was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead.[1][5][6]

Investigation

Body camera footage of the shooting was released the same day as the shooting, along with footage of two recent non-fatal Columbus Police shootings.[7] The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.[8]

On October 25, the Franklin County Coroner's Office ruled Lewis' death a homicide.[9]

On March 3, 2023, Anderson retired from the CDP "in bad standing", due to the ongoing investigations into Lewis's death.[10]

On August 4th, Anderson was indicted on charges of Reckless Homicide and murder.

Reaction

Protests were held outside the Columbus Police headquarters on September 2.[11][12][13]

Lewis's family hired attorney Rex Elliott of Cooper Elliot Personal Injury Lawyers.[14] A press conference was held at a downtown Columbus hotel on September 1.[15][16] Lewis' family sued Anderson and four other officers for $25,000.[3]

The Brady Campaign and the NAACP released statements condemning the shooting.[17][18]

On September 7, the Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the department would no longer execute pre-planned arrest warrants at private homes for misdemeanor offenses unless it is approved by a lieutenant or someone with a higher authority. The change does not apply to SWAT or task force personnel.[19]

See also

References
  1. Musa, Amanda; Andone, Dakin; Watson, Michelle (September 1, 2022). "Body camera video shows a Columbus, Ohio, police officer fatally shooting an unarmed 20-year-old Black man". CNN. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  2. Walker, Micah (September 1, 2022). "Donovan Lewis shooting: What we know about fatal police shooting". Yahoo! News. The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  3. Lewis v. Anderson, Knox, Dorsey, Randall, Dodrill (Court of Franklin County, Ohio).Text
  4. "Attorney: Family 'anticipates filing action' against Columbus officer who fatally shot Donovan Lewis". WBNS CBS 10. September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  5. Yang, Maya (August 31, 2022). "Ohio officer kills 20-year-old Black man seconds after opening his bedroom door". The Guardian. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  6. Comer, Natalie; Clay, Jarrod (August 30, 2022). "Man shot and killed by officer serving arrest warrant in Hilltop, BCI investigating". ABC 6. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  7. Clay, Jarrod (August 30, 2022). "Columbus police release body-cam videos from 3 police shootings in last 8 days". ABC 6. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  8. Brunet, Bethany (August 31, 2022). "Ohio police fatally shoot unarmed Black man in bed during failed arrest attempt, video shows". USA Today. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  9. "Death of Donovan Lewis ruled a homicide". ABC 6. October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  10. "Columbus police officer who killed Donovan Lewis retires in bad standing". 10TV. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  11. Siefert, Kate (September 1, 2022). "Protests planned in Columbus demanding justice for Donovan Lewis". ABC 6. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  12. Bruner, Bethany (September 2, 2022). "Donovan Lewis' family: Keep protests peaceful, focus on change". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  13. "Protesters gather at Columbus police headquarters after fatal Donovan Lewis shooting". ABC 6. September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  14. "Fatal police shooting of Donovan Lewis". CooperElliot.com. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  15. "Police killing of Black man in Ohio 'senseless', lawyer says". Al Jazeera. September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  16. Stoia, Lu Ann (September 1, 2022). "Donovan Lewis' family demands police reform after deadly Columbus police shooting". ABC 6. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  17. "NAACP President Johnson Statement on Shooting Death of Donovan Lewis". NAACP. September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  18. "BRADY JOINS CALLS FOR JUSTICE FOR DONOVAN LEWIS; DEMANDS INVESTIGATION INTO COLUMBUS POLICE SHOOTINGS AND USE OF LETHAL FORCE". Brady United. August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  19. "Columbus police policy change puts restrictions on serving warrants overnight" (September 8, 2022). WBNS CBS 10. September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
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