Jurors found ex-Columbus police officer Adam Coy guilty of murdering Andre Hill in 2020

A Franklin County jury found former Columbus police officer Adam Coy guilty charges of murder, reckless homicide and felonious assault.

In December 2020, Coy shot and killed Andre Hill, an unarmed black man, in a parking garage on Oberlin Drive.

The jury began deliberations Thursday morning and returned with its verdict Monday afternoon.

Coy’s attorneys argued that Coy mistakenly believed Hill was holding a gun, which he could not see well. Hill actually held the keys. They told jurors Coy’s mistake was in good faith and in line with what he was trained to do and taught others to do to protect his life on the job.

Defense attorney Mark Collins told jurors in closing arguments that prosecutors have not shown why Coy would have shot the unarmed man if he did not believe his life was in danger. Collins said Coy had to make a split-second decision and that he made a tragic mistake.

During the closing remarksAssistant Franklin County Prosecutor Anthony Pearson Pearson told jurors prosecutors did not have to prove a motive for the murder, only that Coy killed Hill and had no justification. This Coy acted objectively unwisely, and therefore beyond the scope of the duties of a police officer.

During the trial, jurors heard from two defense experts who testified in support of Coy’s actions and a prosecutor’s expert who said Coy acted unreasonably.

The trial was postponed several times Coy was being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Kou’s sentencing is scheduled for November 25 at 9 a.m

This story will be updated.