CINCINNATI (AP) - The Latest on the dismissal of charges against a white police officer who killed an unarmed black motorist in Cincinnati (all times local):
8 p.m.
A small group of people rallying behind a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black motorist in Cincinnati have walked across a bridge to show their support, while demonstrators who support the slain motorist walked behind them.
No problems were reported as fewer than two dozen supporters of former University of Cincinnati officer Ray Tensing quietly walked across an Ohio River bridge Monday evening. About 40 counter-protesters urging justice for slain motorist Sam DuBose marched behind them.
A judge earlier Monday formally dismissed murder and voluntary manslaughter charges against Tensing. Tensing’s two trials resulted in mistrials after jurors failed to reach unanimous verdicts.
Hamilton County’s prosecutor said last week he wouldn’t retry Tensing.
Federal authorities are working to determine if there were possible civil rights violations.
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5:40 p.m.
The sister of an unarmed black motorist fatally shot by a white police officer says the formal dismissal of murder and voluntary manslaughter charges is disappointing because it means those charges can’t be brought again.
A judge dismissed the charges Monday against former University of Cincinnati Officer Ray Tensing in Sam DuBose’s 2015 slaying.
DuBose’s sister, Terina Allen, says the family still doesn’t understand the prosecutor’s decision not to retry Tensing. Hamilton County’s prosecutor said last week he dropped the case because he believes it can’t succeed. Jurors failed to reach unanimous verdicts in Tensing’s two trials.
Allen says the family wants federal authorities reviewing the shooting to prosecute Tensing for “violating Sam’s civil rights.”
Tensing said he feared being dragged or run over as DuBose tried to drive away.
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11:30 a.m.
The lawyer for a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black motorist in Cincinnati says the formal dismissal of murder and voluntary manslaughter charges brings “a note of finality” after two mistrials.
A judge dismissed the charges Monday. Afterward, defense attorney Stewart Mathews acknowledged that former University of Cincinnati officer Ray Tensing still could face a federal civil rights investigation.
Federal authorities are reviewing Tensing’s July 2015 shooting of Sam DuBose during a traffic stop. Tensing, who was fired after the shooting, has said he feared he could be dragged or run over as DuBose tried to drive away.
DuBose’s family wanted a third murder trial, but a prosecutor declined to pursue one. The charges were dismissed in a way that blocks retrial on the same counts.
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This item has been corrected to show murder and voluntary manslaughter charges were dismissed, not murder and involuntary manslaughter charges.
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10:35 a.m.
A judge in Cincinnati has dismissed charges against a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black motorist, after a prosecutor declined to pursue a third murder trial.
A Hamilton County judge on Monday declined to acquit former officer Ray Tensing in the July 2015 shooting of Sam DuBose during a traffic stop. But the judge dismissed the murder and voluntary manslaughter charges in a way that blocks retrial on those counts.
Tensing has said he feared he could be dragged or run over as DuBose tried to drive away. Two juries couldn’t reach unanimous agreement on the charges, leading to mistrials.
DuBose’s family and civil rights groups wanted a third trial. They’re now hoping federal authorities reviewing the case will conclude that DuBose’s civil rights were violated.
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