A mistrial was declared over the weekend, Saturday, in the trial of former University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing. He’s the cop that shot and killed Samuel DuBose last year, saying that he was almost dragged by DuBose’s car after he attempted to drive off from a traffic stop. Video from Tensing’ body camera showed that to be untrue.
The jury, of which 10 members were white and two black, was seated on 31 October. It had deliberated for 25 hours since Wednesday, following judge Megan Shanahan’s instructions.
Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters said jurors had been leaning towards convicting Tensing on a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, but could not agree. Deters said he would decide within the next two weeks whether to try the case again.
The shooting was one of a number across the country that have raised attention to how police deal with African Americans.
Approximately 1,000 people marched through the city’s downtown area to protest the mistrial. Many of the protestors broke off from an earlier rally protesting the (s)election of Donald Trump as president of the U.S.
Footage from Tensing’s body camera that captured the incident can be viewed here.