Cincinnati cop pleads not guilty in motorist shooting

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

Ray Tensing, 25, 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-yearold Samuel DuBose, of Cincinnati, during a traffic stop.

People in the courtroom audience erupted into cheers and clapped when bond was set at $1 million.

He described Tensing, who is due back in court on Aug. 19, as “very depressed” and “in shock at this point,” adding that Tensing has felt “like he’s been run over by a train from the state of the case and it continues.”

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 licence plate, which is required in Ohio but not in neighbouring states.

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.”