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    Friday, April 26, 2024

    UPDATE: Cincinnati cop pleads not guilty to murder in traffic stop

    Former University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing appears at Hamilton County Courthouse for his arraignment in the shooting death of motorist Samuel DuBose, Thursday, July 30, 2015, in Cincinnati. Tensing pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and involuntary manslaughter. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

    CINCINNATI — A University of Cincinnati police officer who shot a motorist after stopping him over a missing front license plate pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of murder and involuntary manslaughter.

    Twenty-five-year-old Ray Tensing appeared at his arraignment wearing a striped jail suit, with his hands cuffed behind him. He was indicted Wednesday in the July 19 shooting of 43-year-old Samuel DuBose, of Cincinnati, during a traffic stop.

    People in the courtroom audience erupted into cheers and clapping when bond was set at $1 million, drawing the ire of Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan.

    "Ladies and gentlemen! This is a courtroom," the judge said sharply. "You will conduct yourselves at all times!"

    Prosecutors had asked for the $1 million bond. Shanahan rejected the defense's contention that Tensing wasn't a flight risk.

    Tensing is due back in court Aug. 19.

    DuBose's family has urged the community to remain calm, as it has in a series of demonstrations since the shooting. Tensing had stopped DuBose for a missing front license plate, which is required in Ohio but not in neighboring states.

    DuBose's death comes amid months of national scrutiny of police dealings with African-Americans, especially those killed by officers. DuBose was black; Tensing is white. Authorities so far have not focused on race in the death of DuBose. City officials who viewed video footage from Tensing's body camera said the traffic stop shouldn't have led to a shooting.

    "This officer was wrong," Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell said Wednesday, adding that officers "have to be held accountable" when they're in the wrong.

    Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters scoffed at Tensing's claim that he was dragged by DuBose's car, saying the officer "purposely killed him." Using words such as "asinine" and "senseless," the veteran prosecutor known for tough stands on urban crime called it "a chicken crap" traffic stop.

    "It was so unnecessary," Deters said. He added that Tensing "should never have been a police officer."

    Tensing, who was jailed overnight Wednesday, was fired soon after the indictment was announced. He had been with the University of Cincinnati for more than a year after starting police work in 2011 in a Cincinnati suburb. He also had earned a UC degree in criminal justice.

    Tensing's attorney, Stewart Mathews, said that he was shocked that his client was indicted on a murder charge and that Tensing did not intend to kill DuBose.

    Tensing, who could face up to life in prison if convicted, has said he thought he was going to be dragged under the car and "feared for his life," Mathews said.

    Mathews said a video from the body camera of a police officer who arrived right after the shooting shows Tensing lying in the street after he had gotten free of the car, but that video hasn't been released by authorities.

    "With the political climate in this country with white police officers shooting black individuals, I think they need somebody to make an example of," Mathews said.

    Authorities have said Tensing stopped the car and a struggle ensued after DuBose failed to provide a driver's license and refused to get out of the car.

    "I didn't even do nothing," DuBose can be heard telling Tensing. DuBose held up what appears to be a bottle of gin.

    Tensing fired once, striking DuBose in the head.

    Aubrey DuBose, the victim's brother, called the shooting "senseless" and "unprovoked." He said the family is upset but wants any reaction to the case to be nonviolent and done in a way that honors his brother's style.

    "Sam was peaceful," he said. "He lived peaceful. And in his death, we want to remain peaceful. Like my mom said, let God fight the battle."

    Associated Press writers Kantele Franko, Ann Sanner, Mitch Stacy, Julie Carr Smyth and Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus and Dylan Lovan in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

    In this July 19, 2015, frame from body camera video provided by the University of Cincinnati Campus Police, university Officer Ray Tensing stands next to motorist Samuel DuBose during a traffic stop for a missing front license plate in Cincinnati. DuBose was fatally shot by the officer after a struggle ensued when he refused to provide a driver's license and get out of the car. Tensing was indicted Wednesday, July 29 on a murder charge. (University of Cincinnati Campus Police via AP)
    Aubrey DuBose, right, holds his mother Audrey during a news conference after murder and manslaughter charges against University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing were announced for the traffic stop shooting death of motorist Samuel DuBose, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters added that the officer "purposely killed him" and "should never have been a police officer." (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
    Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell, center, shakes hands with a protestor during a demonstration outside the Hamilton County Courthouse after murder and manslaughter charges against University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing were announced for the traffic stop shooting death of motorist Samuel DuBose, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. Hamilton County sheriff's spokesman Michael Robison says 25-year-old Tensing turned himself in at the county justice center Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
    Gee Farrell, center, holds a sign in the rain during a demonstration outside the Hamilton County Courthouse after murder and manslaughter charges against University of Cincinnati Police Officer Ray Tensing were announced for the traffic stop shooting death of motorist Samuel DuBose, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. Hamilton County sheriff's spokesman Michael Robison says 25-year-old Tensing turned himself in at the county justice center on Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
    This booking photograph released Wednesday, July 29, 2015, by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office shows University of Cincinnati police Officer Ray Tensing, who turned himself in Wednesday afternoon to face murder and manslaughter charges in the traffic stop shooting death of motorist Samuel DuBose in Cincinnati earlier this month. (Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

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