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A police officer from Tucson, Arizona, was terminated after surveillance footage revealed him fatally shooting a suspected shoplifter in a wheelchair nine times in the back.
News 12 reported Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus identified the officer who killed the suspect as Ryan Remington, who had been on the force for four years.
A Tucson police officer was fired after video captured him fatally shooting a man in a motorized wheelchair, officials said. https://t.co/o4f7VCGzvw
— CNN (@CNN) December 1, 2021
Said Magnus at a news conference:
"To be very clear, I am deeply disturbed and troubled by Officer Remington's actions."
"His use of deadly force in this incident is a clear violation of department policy and directly contradicts multiple aspects of our use of force and training."
Tonight we heard from #Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus regarding last night’s officer involved shooting.
Magnus said 61 yr old Richard Lee Richards was shot 9 times and died shortly after. Richards was shot by 4 yr officer Ryan Remington. Remington has been fired. pic.twitter.com/xiQX28Iq9D
— Megan Meier (@meganmeierKGUN) November 30, 2021
The victim was identified as 61-year-old Richard Lee Richards. He was allegedly caught shoplifting inside the store.
Monday's incident happened at a Walmart store in the Midvale Park Shopping Center.
You can watch a news report, here.
Tucson police officer fired after shooting man in wheelchair 9 times in the back, killing him youtu.be
According to Rawstory, Remington had been working off-duty at Walmart. When he was informed by the employee about the theft, Remington confronted Richards and asked him to show his receipt.
Richards then allegedly pulled a knife on the officer, telling him, "Here's your receipt."
The security footage from the shopping center parking lot did not show the victim with a knife, but it showed Remington following Richards into a nearby Loew's.
Police claimed Richards told Remington, "If you want me to put down the knife, you're going to have to shoot me."
Bodycam footage showed Remington firing shots at Richards from behind, just inside the entrance to Lowe's.
People expressed their outrage over the officer opening fire on a disabled person.
Tonight we heard from #Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus regarding last night’s officer involved shooting.
Magnus said 61 yr old Richard Lee Richards was shot 9 times and died shortly after. Richards was shot by 4 yr officer Ryan Remington. Remington has been fired. pic.twitter.com/xiQX28Iq9D
— Megan Meier (@meganmeierKGUN) November 30, 2021
In a motorized wheelchair?? REALLY? Where was he going to go??? You don't reform this. You take these officers off the streets and make sure they don't serve anywhere again, ever.
— Terri Colburn (@Terrible_TerriC) December 1, 2021
For shoplifting. SHOPLIFTING. He was murdered for shoplifting.
— Deedeemarz (@deedeemarz) December 1, 2021
The officer fired 9 rounds at a man in a wheel chair, who reportedly had a knife and refused to stop, after stealing a toolbox.
Really??
And he was simply fired?
Only in America
— ishmael2702 (@ishmael2702) December 1, 2021
So let me get this straight, he shot a man in a motorized wheelchair nine times because he was brandishing a knife? From a motorized wheelchair? Nine times? Critical thinking is certainly not the police's strong point, is it?
— Democracy'sBurnerAccount (@DemocracysBrnr) December 1, 2021
As an outside observer I note that the US has become worse than even Hollywood could dream up for a horror story.
— Bengt Björck (@BngtB) December 1, 2021
The Lowe's security camera showed Richards getting shot repeatedly and eventually slumping forward out of his chair and onto the store floor.
Another officer then handcuffed Richards after he was on the ground. He was pronounced dead moments later.
Can Someone please explain to me why the cop chose to handcuff this Man after shooting him several times and seeing him fall out of the wheelchair instead of rendering aide immediately? He clearly wasn’t a threat at this point! He was dead!😡
— AntiquesAtlanta (@AntiquesAtl) December 1, 2021
All three perspectives are included in the publicly released clip below.
Warning: graphic and disturbing.
OIS - November 29th, 2021 youtu.be
The incident is currently being reviewed by the Pima County Attorney's Office.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero responded on Tuesday afternoon with the following statement:
“The actions of the officer involved in last night’s deadly shooting are unconscionable and indefensible. The County Attorney’s Office has my full support as they proceed with their investigation."
"It is moments like this that test our resolve to ensure justice and accountability. We owe this to all Tucsonans. I ask our community to remain calm and be patient as investigations ensue.”