Tucson officer fired after fatally shooting man 9 times from behind

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Tucson police are firing one of their officers who fatally shot and killed a man on an electric scooter while confronting him on charges of alleged shoplifting.

Shocking videos of Monday’s shooting from Lowe’s security cameras showed 61-year-old Richard Lee Richards entering the store in a motorized wheelchair, followed by two officers with their guns a few yards behind him.

On-body camera footage shows an officer later identified as Officer Ryan Remington firing his gun nine times in Richards’ back and side.

Richards was turned away from the officers when he was hit and immediately falls from his chair. Remington then rushes over to him and handcuffs the man while he lies crumpled up on the floor.

Richards was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

What we know about the shoot

Shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday, a Walmart employee reported that Richards was suspected of shoplifting a toolbox, Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus told a press conference on Tuesday. Remington, who was an off-duty security guard at Walmart, replied.

According to the agent, when asked for a receipt, Richards pulled out a knife and said, “Here’s your receipt.” Richards then drove in his motorized wheelchair across the parking lot near Valencia Road and Oak Tree Drive in south Tucson to Lowe’s store, Magnus said.

Remington followed Richards in the parking lot and can be seen on a video calling for reinforcements because Richards “pulled a knife at me.”

Officer Stephanie Taylor replied and arrived at the scene as Remington approached Richards near the Lowe’s entrance.

The footage of her body-worn camera shows her running out of her vehicle towards Richards.

“You have to stop,” you hear someone say and then: “He’s got his knife in the other hand.”

As Remington says, “Don’t go into the store, sir,” Taylor also draws her gun.

“Stop it now. You have to – ”she starts to say, but is interrupted by Remington, who fires his weapon.

Prosecutor: He had “no non-fatal options”

On Tuesday, Tucson police began firing Remington, who has been with the division for four years, Magnus said.

It is rare for an officer to be fired or prosecuted for using violence against someone, and it is almost unheard of for an officer to be fired so soon afterwards.

“To be perfectly clear, I am deeply concerned and concerned about the actions of Officer Remington. His use of lethal force in this incident is a clear violation of department policy and directly contradicts several aspects of our use of force and training, ”said Magnus.

The Pima County Attorney’s Office is reviewing the fatal shots for possible charges against the officer.

Tucson attorney Mike Storie, who represents Remington, said in a statement that his client “had no non-lethal options.”

“He had a taser, but mentally he couldn’t use it because he felt it wasn’t the right spread to use it, with the wheelchair between him and Richards,” said Storie.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said Remington’s actions were “unscrupulous and unjustifiable” and prosecutors had their full support in the investigation.

The shooting came the day after Tucson police announced they were investigating another incident involving an off-duty officer holding two women to the ground.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

You can reach current reporter Julie Luchetta at jluchetta@arizonarepublic.com.

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