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WATCH: US cop charged with murder after 'senselessly' shooting black man in the head

“He should never have been a police officer,” says the prosecutor.

dubose WCPO WCPO

A CAMPUS POLICE officer who shot a black motorist in the head in Cincinnati, Ohio has been charged with murder, it was announced today.

University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing, who is white, shot and killed 43-year-old Samuel DuBose on 19 July, after an innocuous car stop over a missing registration plate.

Tensing’s bodycam video of the shooting was released overnight, but has not so far caused an outbreak of tensions in the city, as had been feared when it was described in advance as “not good.”

Tensing shot DuBose directly in the head when he attempted to start his engine, after a dispute over his driving license.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters announced the grand jury indictment at a news conference today, saying the officer was a “murderer” who had “purposely killed [DuBose]” and “should never have been a police officer.”

He called the shooting “senseless” and “asinine.”

Traffic Stop Shooting Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters Associated Press Associated Press

Authorities have said Tensing spotted a car driven by DuBose and missing the front registration plate, which is required by Ohio law.

They say Tensing stopped the car and a struggle ensued after DuBose refused to provide a driver’s license and get out of the car.

Until that point, the 43-year-old had been polite and his conversation with Tensing was cooperative and friendly.

However, as shown in the video below, the incident escalated quickly after the officer attempted to open the driver’s door, and DuBose started his engine.

Before the release of the video, Tensing had said he was dragged by the car and forced to shoot at DuBose, but Deters dismissed this, saying he shouldn’t have pulled DuBose over to begin with.

“He fell backward after he shot him in the head,” Deters said, adding that it was a “chicken crap” traffic stop.

Officer Tensing’s lawyer, Stewart Mathews, said earlier today that he thought the charges were likely “given the political climate” and comments made by city officials.

Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell had earlier said the video was “not good”, and Prosecutor Deters said he was “shocked” after viewing it.

Warning: This video features a fatal shooting. Graphic elements of it have been pixellated, but it may be disturbing to some viewers.

WCPO.com | 9 On Your Side / YouTube

DuBose’s death comes amid months of national scrutiny of police dealings with African-Americans, especially those killed by officers.

However, authorities haven’t yet indicated whether race is a part of this particular investigation.

The University of Cincinnati on Wednesday closed its main campus in anticipation of grand jury action in the case.

Mark O’Mara, attorney for DuBose’s family, called for a “peaceful and nonaggressive” response from the community after the officer’s indictment.

O’Mara said the family wanted a peaceful reaction because “Sam was a peaceful person.”

Traffic Stop Shooting Mourners carry the casket of Samuel DuBose at his funeral yesterday. Associated Press Associated Press

Tensing has more than five years of experience in law enforcement and has worked as a University of Cincinnati police officer since April 2014.

His annual performance review this April noted that he was extremely strong in the traffic area and maintains control of his weapons and of “situations he is involved in.”

He has been placed on administrative leave by the Cincinnati Police Department, and fired by the University of Cincinnati.

After the murder charges were issued, Tensing turned himself in this afternoon.

If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Contains reporting by the Associated Press.

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    Mute Jay
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    Apr 13th 2025, 8:19 PM

    29 going on 49. You are only young once pal.

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    Mute P. J.
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    Apr 13th 2025, 10:36 PM

    @Jay:
    That’s the only type who would keep a money diary!!
    Have you noticed how many accountants and money managers come up?

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    Mute George Bowling
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    Apr 13th 2025, 8:57 PM

    Maybe if the journal offered a free bet to write one of these diaries we’d all finally get the account of the young life of the hard drinking tearaway whose rent this week is entirely dependent on the 3.30 at Kempton that we all secretly hope to read whenever we open one of these articles.

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    Mute P. J.
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    Apr 13th 2025, 10:33 PM

    @George Bowling:
    Haha, it would have to be a lot more than one free bet to get someone like that to keep an accurate money diary

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    Mute Laney Sinc
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    Apr 13th 2025, 8:06 PM

    Youth is wasted on the young.

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    Apr 14th 2025, 5:23 AM

    @Laney Sinc: he is a very rich one and saving a pretty penny

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    Apr 13th 2025, 9:23 PM

    Well done. I think you’re doing great.

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    Mute Thomas O'Brien
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    Apr 13th 2025, 9:51 PM

    Woke up, got out of bed, dragged the comb across my head. Made my way downstairs and drank a cup and looking up I noticed I was late.
    Found my coat and grabbed my hat, made the bus in seconds flat.
    Found my way upstairs and had a smoke and somebody spoke and I went into a dream.

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    Mute Thomas Meaney
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    Apr 13th 2025, 8:50 PM

    I can only assume the engineer is either Elec, Mech or similar. His remuneration shows the exploitation large companies get away with. You can be guaranteed they are charging the client double if not more for his role. Of course I’m guessing but this would be typical of construction companies. After all the years studying being an engineer is no longer seen as it was once before.

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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Apr 13th 2025, 9:12 PM

    @Thomas Meaney: He could grow a pair and go work for himself and double his salary immediately minimum.

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Apr 14th 2025, 4:47 AM

    no kids, carreer oriented and no life

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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Apr 14th 2025, 6:05 AM

    @Dominic Leleu: People don’t seem to realise you pay for selfish choices at the end in old age when loneliness and isolation kick in.

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