Arizona cop who fatally shot man in wheelchair indicted for manslaughter
A former Tucson, Arizona, police officer who was fired after fatally shooting an armed shoplifting suspect using a motorized wheelchair nine times last year has been indicted for manslaughter.
Ryan Remington, was served with a summons on Thursday, according to Pima County Attorney Laura Conover. He faces between three to 12 and a half years in prison, if convicted.
John Bradley, a lawyer for family of the 61-year-old victim, Richard Lee Richards, will be filing a separate civil lawsuit in the coming weeks.
The fatal Nov. 29 shooting unfolded while Remington was off-duty and working as a security guard at a Walmart. He had been informed by a loss prevention employee that a man in a motorized wheelchair was suspected of stealing a toolbox, and the pair followed Richards out to the parking lot.
Remington asked Richards to show a receipt for the toolbox, police said. Instead, Richards brandished a knife and said, “Here’s your receipt.” He then moved toward a nearby Lowe’s, ignoring warnings not to enter the store.
“If you want me to put down the knife, you’re going to have to shoot me,” he reportedly told Remington.
As Richards began to enter the shop, Remington warned, “Do not go into the store, sir,” according to body camera footage from a second officer who arrived on the scene.
Remington then opened fire on the suspect, who was hit nine times, the footage showed.
Security camera video showed Richards slumping over and falling out of his wheelchair onto the ground.
Remington can then be seen handcuffing Richards, whose body is lying still.