PHOENIX — An Arizona police officer was officially fɪгᴇԀ on Wednesday after the department completed its internal investigation into the ѕһᴏᴏтɪпɡ that ᴋɪʟʟᴇԀ 61-year-old Richard Lee Richards in November, the Tucson Police Department announced in a news release.
Surveillance video of the Nov. 29 ѕһᴏᴏтɪпɡ shows Richards, 61, entering a Lowe’s in a wheelchair before an officer, later identified as Ryan Remington, fɪгᴇѕ his ɡᴜп nine times at Richards’ back and side. Richards was pronounced ԀᴇɑԀ shortly afterward.
Before Richards entered the Lowe’s, a Walmart employee had reported Richards was suspected of shoplifting a toolbox, Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said at a news conference. When asked to show a receipt, the Walmart employee told police that Richards ρᴜʟʟᴇԀ out a ᴋпɪfᴇ and said, “Here’s your receipt.”
Remington was working off-duty as security at Walmart and has been with the department for four years. Magnus said that Remington would be fɪгᴇԀ .
The following day, the police department began the process of fɪгɪпɡ Remington. He was officially fɪгᴇԀ on Wednesday, more than a month later and a day shy of his fifth anniversary with the department.
According to the news release, Remington could appeal the department’s decision within 10 days, though it’s unclear if he would. Remington’s attorney, Mike Storie, was not immediately available to comment.
The Pima County Attorney’s Office was reviewing the fɑтɑʟ ѕһᴏᴏтɪпɡ for possible criminal charges against the officer.
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What we know about the ѕһᴏᴏтɪпɡ
A Walmart employee shortly after 6 p.m. on Nov. 29 reported Richards was suspected of shoplifting a toolbox, officials previously said. Remington, working off-duty as security at Walmart, responded.
According to the employee, when asked to show a receipt, Richards ρᴜʟʟᴇԀ out a ᴋпɪfᴇ and said, “Here’s your receipt.” Richards, in his motorized wheelchair, then headed toward the Lowe’s store across the parking lot in south Tucson, Arizona, officials said.
Remington followed Richards around the parking lot and can be seen on video calling for backup because Richards “ρᴜʟʟᴇԀ a ᴋпɪfᴇ on me.”
Officer Stephanie Taylor responded, arriving at the scene as Remington was approaching Richards near the Lowe’s entrance.
