West News Wire: Tucson police officer Ryan Remington on Monday, fatally shot a man in a motorized wheelchair who was accused of shoplifting and pulling a knife when confronted outside a Walmart, officials said.
Video released by the Tucson Police Department showed Officer Ryan Remington several steps behind the man in the wheelchair, identified by police as 61-year-old Richard Lee Richards.
The officer asked Richards to stop before firing nine rounds — striking him in the back and side — as the man headed into another store, according to police.
The Arizona city’s police chief said on Tuesday that he’s “deeply disturbed and troubled” by the officer’s actions during the incident.
An attorney for Remington said the video released by police did not offer a complete picture of events leading to Monday’s shooting.
Richards had been accused of stealing a toolbox from Walmart when an employee contacted an off-duty Tucson police officer who was working a special duty assignment at the store, according to a statement from Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus.
Remington, an officer for four years in Tucson, joined the Walmart employee in the parking lot and followed Richards while “attempting to gain his cooperation,” the police chief said in a statement.
“According to the employee, he caught up with Mr. Richards outside as he fled the store and asked to see a receipt for the toolbox. Instead of providing the receipt, Mr. Richards brandished a knife and said, ‘Here’s your receipt.'”
Mr Remington fired nine shots from his gun at Mr Richards, who slumps forward and falls from his wheelchair. He was then handcuffed. He was later declared dead.
“His [Mr Remington’s] deadly use of force in this incident is a clear violation of department policy and directly contradicts multiple aspects of our use of force and training,” Tucson police chief Chris Magnus said on Tuesday.
“As a result, the department moved earlier today to terminate Officer Remington,” he added.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said in a statement that Mr Remington’s actions were “unconscionable and indefensible”.
The incident is now being reviewed by the Pima County Attorney’s Office.
Watch the video:
