Donovan Lewis was unarmed when killed by Columbus, Ohio police

The family of Donovan Lewis, the 20-year-old who was shot and killed by police in Ohio, is demanding justice and accountability.

Donovan Lewis killed by police

Columbus Police went to Lewis’ apartment to serve an arrest warrant for domestic violence, assault and improper handling of a firearm.

Body camera footage released on Tuesday show that Officer Ricky Anderson, a 30-year veteran of the Columbus Police Department, fired his gun less than one second after the door to a bedroom with Lewis inside was opened. An object that may have been a vape pen was next to Lewis, but he was unarmed and in bed.

Lewis was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Accountability

Lewis’ family is trying to piece together why he was killed and demanding accountability.

Rebecca Duran, Lewis’ mother, spoke  out during a press conference on Thursday, saying that her son “had the biggest heart” who was always concerned about the wellbeing of others.

“He would share the last — whether it be food, money, whatever he had — to make sure that others were protected to the best of his ability,” Duran said.

She spoke about her son’s struggles with mental health issues, and while there were a number of people devoted to helping him, some “shrugged it off as discipline rather than a true mental health problem,” she said. The night of Lewis’ death, police were serving him with an arrest warrant on domestic violence, assault and firearm charges.

“Had we been able to get more help earlier on, some of the charges we had would never have been issued,” Duran said.

But Wright said he wanted to make it clear that Lewis’ mental health issues aren’t what killed him. Lewis is dead, Wright said, because “police did not do what they were supposed to do.”

Attorneys Rex Elliott, Michael Wright, and Robert Gresham will counsel the Lewis family as they seek justice.

Wright helped represent the family of 47-year-old Andre’ Hill, who was shot and killed by Columbus police officer Adam Coy while responding to a non-emergency call in Dec. 2020.

Officer Ricky Anderson is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.