The former Columbus police officer who shot and killed an unarmed Black man during the early morning raid of an apartment has been indicted by a grand jury on murder charges.
Ricky Anderson, of Johnstown, was indicted on Friday on murder and reckless homicide charges. Lewis' mother Rebecca Duran, other family members and the family's attorneys spoke at a press conference on Friday following the indictment. Duran said when she woke up and found out about the indictment she cried tears of sadness and joy.
“I'm grateful that they did the right thing. They indicted him for what most definitely are the charges that he needs to be held responsible for. I'm still sad because bottom line is, Donovan should still be here. But today is overall a good day," Duran said.
Lewis, 20, was shot by Anderson immediately after officers opened a bedroom door inside a Sullivant Avenue apartment in Columbus' Hilltop neighborhoods. Officers were serving a 2 a.m. felony warrant for Lewis on August 30, 2022.
Police body camera footage of the raid showed officers knocking on the door, detaining two men and asking if anyone else was in the unit. After yelling, “We’re sending the dogs in!,” officers released a police dog to search the apartment. An officer holding the dog opens a back bedroom door and immediately fires his gun.
Lewis was shot as he sat up in bed with something in his hand. Authorities said a vape pen was found on the bed.
After the shooting, Lewis was taken to Grant Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Rex Elliott is one of the attorneys representing the family in a wrongful death civil lawsuit filed last year. Elliott said Anderson should never have been in the position to take Lewis’ life that day.
“Donovan Lewis was given a death sentence. And it's time for Ricky Anderson to be held accountable for what he did as well," he said.
Attorneys Kaitlyn Stephens and Mark Collins are representing Anderson. The two have represented multiple police accused of misconduct, including former Columbus Vice Officer Andrew Mitchell who was found not guilty of murder charges earlier this year.
Stephens said in a statement that they anticipated this indictment and they believe the evidence will show Anderson was justified in using deadly force against Lewis. She calls the grand jury that indicted her client a dog-and-pony show controlled by the Special Prosecutors.
"This case is not about if Ricky Anderson made the decision to use deadly force, but why he made the decision to use deadly force. As we progress through litigation, the evidence will show that it was because he was justified in doing so," Stephens said.
Anderson retired in March but CPD said he retired in bad standing which means he cannot keep his gun or CPD badge. He was a 30 year veteran of CPD.
Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack appointed special prosecutors Tim Merkle and Gary Shroyer to handle the case in December. Their appointment came after the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations finished its probe of the shooting.
Lewis' family has also sued Anderson and four other Columbus police officers, Chance Knox, Harry Dorsey, Jack Randall and Justin Dodrill, who were in the apartment at the time of the shooting.
In June a Franklin County judge ruled the case can move forward and Elliott said it is now in the discovery phase and they are waiting to get depositions. Elliott said he thinks Anderson will plead the fifth amendment to avoid being deposed. He said they may also sue the City of Columbus if the city doesn’t do the right thing and make changes.
The lawsuit claims all five officers violated Columbus’ 2021 Andre’s Law, requiring police officers to immediately render aid when someone is injured by police.
Andre’s Law was enacted after Andre Hill was shot and killed in 2020 by Columbus police, who didn’t render aid to him. Elliott’s suit states Anderson, who shot Lewis once in the abdomen, never tried to help Lewis and that the other officers waited too long to help.
Elliott and Duran also criticized for the city for how long it took to indict Anderson. Elliott said it shows there are two different justice systems for regular people and police officers.
“We never should have taken this long to indict a police officer for recklessly shooting an unarmed young man in his bed in the middle of the night. But we are also very grateful that the process, the criminal process, is now taking hold and has begun," Elliott said.
The city of Columbus released a short statement Friday from Safety Director Kate Pischotti saying Lewis’s death is a tragedy for all involved. Pischotti said the city is respecting the process of fully independent investigations for police involved shootings and is going to let the case work through the criminal justice system.
Duran was asked about meeting with Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther on the morning of Lewis’s funeral. She said Ginther promised changes would be made because of Lewis’s death. Duran was asked if she’s seen any changes.
“Zero. Absolutely nothing. Not even a phone call from the man," she said.
In the week after the shooting, Columbus police said no-preplanned arrest warrants at private residences for all misdemeanor offenses would be served between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. without the prior approval of a lieutenant or above.
The new warrant policy will not apply to tactical units like SWAT teams. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said overnight warrants could still be served during “dangerous, exigent circumstances."
Elliott said if they don't see meaningful change, the family may also sue the city.
There is not a set date yet for the trial and a judge and courtroom haven't been set yet. Anderson has also not been arraigned to enter a plea.
