City of Columbus Pays Out $10 Million Dollars to Family of Andre Hill

Slate.com

On December 22, 2020, Andre Hill was killed in what can only be described as a gross display of police brutality. The 47-year-old black man and supporter of the BLM movement was shot to death by former Columbus police officer Adam Coy. Hill was visiting a family friend the night of the incident, and as he exited the garage he was approached by Coy, who was answering a nonemergency call at the time.

The body camera showed the event in gruesome detail, as Hill was shot several times then handcuffed on the ground while unconscious. Neither Coy nor the officer accompanying him attempted to give Hill first aid until several minutes passed, but by then it was already too late.

The death of Andre Hill sparked nationwide backlash, especially from members of the BLM movement. Vigils were set up in his honor and protests were organized, calling for justice for Hill and his grieving family. On December 28th, 2020, they finally got some semblance of justice when Adam Coy was removed from his position in the police force.

The officer of 19-years has had several civilian complaints prior to the death of Hill regarding how he conducted himself on the job. Brought before a court of law, he was charged with murder, reckless homicide, and dereliction of duty.

The family of Andre Hill is to receive a ten-million-dollar settlement from the Columbus City Council for the death of their loved one. Although this marked a small victory for the fight against police brutality against Black Americans, Hill’s grieving family was left with a bittersweet reminder of the man they lost. Karissa Hill, Andre’s daughter gave this anecdote in response to the success of the settlement: "It's one step, but it's not full justice.

It doesn't take the scar off of our hearts from my dad not being here but it something and it's a start." In these cases of civil injustice, we may never have a truly satisfying end. What is lost is lost; loved ones who were unjustly killed cannot be brought back home. However, the actions of those who seek justice can often lead to a better tomorrow for those still alive.

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