Thursday 8-31--25 Ex-Columbus Cop Adam Coy Sentenced to Life for Murder of Andre Hill

Yesterday marked a definitive moment in the pursuit of justice for the family of Andre Hill as former Columbus Police Officer Adam Coy was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years for the 2020 murder of Hill, Franklin County Prosecutor's Office reported. Sentenced for murder, felonious assault, and reckless homicide, Coy was held accountable following his November 2024 conviction at the age of 48 for the fatal shooting that reflected a breach of the very duty meant to uphold the sanctity of life and trust in law enforcement.

Prosecuting Attorney Shayla D. Favor expressed the importance of this sentencing as "a solemn step toward accountability in the death of Andre Hill, and toward strengthening the systems meant to serve and protect us all," and she stressed that with the power entrusted to police officers comes "an even greater responsibility to protect the rights and dignity of every person," according to the statement obtained by the Franklin Conty Prosecutor's Office. While Dr. Shawna Barnett, Hill's sister, acknowledged that no sentencing can return her brother, she recognized the conclusion as a semblance of closure.

The tragic events unfolded on December 22, 2020, when Coy, responding to a non-emergency call on Oberlin Drive regarding a suspicious SUV, encountered Hill who was inside the vehicle after a brief conversation, Hill proceeded into the garage, Coy, alleging he mistook Hill for being armed, fired his weapon as Hill emerged, striking him four times resulting in Hill’s death at Riverside Methodist Hospital—the prosecution and police investigation affirmed that Hill was indeed unarmed at the time of the shooting.

The community, while grappling with the outcome of this case, has witnessed the intersection of grief and perseverance through the actions of Hill's family and the advocacy from various figures in the justice system, such as Chief Elaine Bryant and FOP President Brian Steel. Prosecutor Favor lauded their collective strength and dedication in these trying times. Dr. Barnett's profound grief, coupled with an unwavering quest for accountability, resonates with all those seeking justice and reform in the wake of tragic encounters between citizens and law enforcement.