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University of Cincinnati police officer indicted for murder

Ray Tensing is accused of murdering Samuel DuBose after a routine traffic stop.

By Ed Adamczyk
University of Cincinnati campus. Photo by University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati campus. Photo by University of Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, July 29 (UPI) -- A University of Cincinnati police officer was indicted for murder Wednesday in the fatal shooting of a driver during a traffic stop.

Ray Tensing stands accused of killing Samuel DuBose, 43, near the college campus on July 19, the Hamilton Country, Ohio, grand jury decided Wednesday. The decision came after the 12 grand jury members reviewed evidence Monday.

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County Prosecutor Joe Deters said at a news conference, after the indictment was handed down, that Tensing, who is white, "purposely killed" DuBose, who is African-American, after the police officer lost his temper. "This is without question a murder," Deters added, referring to Tensing's explanation of the incident as "nonsense" and Tensing's reason for stopping DuBose, for a missing front license plate, a "chicken-crap stop."

The indictment comes after a series of questionable incidents involving law enforcement officials and African-American citizens across the country, and has reinforced worries about the strained relationship between Cincinnati police and the city's African-American population.

Evidence from a body camera Tensing wore at the time of the incident indicates he stopped the car, asked for DuBose's driver's license, received a bottle of alcohol instead and shot DuBose in the head.

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The University of Cincinnati was closed Wednesday, and Ohio State Troopers were observed arriving at the campus.

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