POLICE Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Former Ohio Officer Found Guilty of Murder Over On-Duty Shooting of Unarmed Man

Judge Stephen McIntosh will sentence former Columbus officer Adam Coy on Nov. 25, but the only sentence McIntosh can impose is life in prison without the possibility of parole for at least 15 years.

by Staff
November 4, 2024

A former Columbus, Ohio, police officer has been convicted of murder and other charges in the December 2020 fatal shooting of an unarmed man.

Adam Coy, 48, is guilty of murder, felonious assault and reckless homicide in the December 2020 shooting death of 47-year-old Andre Hill, a jury decided Monday.

Ad Loading...

Judge Stephen McIntosh will sentence Coy on Nov. 25, but the only sentence McIntosh can impose is life in prison without the possibility of parole for at least 15 years, the Dispatch reports.

Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, said Monday's verdict was the result of a politically biased prosecution and will have ripple effects on other officers.

"Officers are willing to die for their community," he said. "They're not willing to go to prison for their job."

Ben Crump, a nationally known civil rights attorney who represented Hill’s family, said in a statement the verdict was a “measure of justice.”

Early on the morning of Dec. 22, 2020 Officer Coy was called to the residence after a neighbor had called the Columbus police nonemergency number about a silver SUV parked there that had been running on and off for about three hours.

Coy arrived and spoke with the SUV driver, now known to be Hill. Evidence in the case showed Hill had shown Coy a cellphone and said he was waiting on someone. Coy testified he saw Hill walk up to the door of a neighboring home and knock on the door with no response from inside.

Coy told the jury that when another officer, Amy Detweiler, arrived on the scene, Coy told her that the situation seemed off, and the two began walking up the driveway and approached the home, where the garage door was open.

Evidence from the trial showed the officers saw Hill inside a vehicle inside the open garage, which had no lights on, and Coy told Hill to come out and show himself.

As Hill came out of the garage, he had his left hand up holding a lit cellphone. Coy suddenly yelled, “Gun, gun, he has a gun!” before drawing his firearm and firing at Hill four times. Coy testified he saw silver metal in Hill’s right hand.


Ad Loading...

More Point of Law

patrolfinder - reducing crime thumbnail
SponsoredOctober 27, 2025

How One Police Department Cut Crime by 46% with Smarter Patrol Management

Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.

Read More →
Point of Law logo with scales of justice in metallic silver text
Patrolby Eric DaigleSeptember 1, 2025

Point of Law: The Limits of Electronic Searches

Can an individual be prosecuted for despicable criminal conduct based on evidence obtained in violation of the United States Constitution? Ultimately, the Ninth Circuit judges wrote, “In the circumstances of this case (United States v. Holcomb, 23-469 (9th Cir. 2025)), respect for the Constitution and the rule of law requires an answer of “no.”

Read More →
PatrolAugust 25, 2025

Trump Issues Order Cutting Federal Funding in Cashless Bail Jurisdictions

<strong>“</strong>Cashless bail policies allow dangerous individuals to immediately return to the streets and further endanger law-abiding, hard-working Americans because they know our laws will not be enforced,” the administration said.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Point of LawJuly 2, 2025

Justice Department Sues Los Angeles Over Sanctuary Policies

The DOJ said in a press release that the “sanctuary city” policies of the City of Los Angeles are illegal under federal law.

Read More →
Point of Lawby Kevin R. MadisonJune 20, 2025

Understanding Officer-Created Jeopardy

Officers can be criminally prosecuted for using force when their actions led to escalation during contact with subjects.

Read More →
Point of LawJune 18, 2025

Point of Law: The Limitations of Search Warrants

In the Tenth Circuit case of Cuervo v. Sorenson, the Court ruled officers cannot deviate from the language of the warrant.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Point of LawMay 21, 2025

DOJ Dismisses Consent Decrees Affecting Louisville and Minneapolis Police

The Civil Rights Division will be taking all necessary steps to dismiss the Louisville and Minneapolis lawsuits with prejudice, to close the underlying investigations into the Louisville and Minneapolis police departments.

Read More →
Point of LawApril 28, 2025

New Michigan Bill would Give Officers Civil Immunity in Self-Defense Cases

House Bill 4404 would create a presumption of civil immunity for individuals who are cleared criminally after using force in self-defense, shifting the burden of proof onto plaintiffs.

Read More →
Point of LawApril 8, 2025

Seattle to Pay Police Captain $1 Million to Settle Lawsuit

Seattle police Capt. Eric Greening sued former Chief Adrian Diaz last year alleging that Diaz retaliated when Greening brought up concerns about racial and gender discrimination.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Point of LawMarch 13, 2025

Washington Agencies Ordered to Not Delete Critical Facebook Contents

Jim Leighty, a local activist, filed two federal lawsuits last year claiming both agencies deleted or hid critical comments he had written below multiple posts, while keeping comments that were pro-police in nature.

Read More →