Samuel DuBose didn’t have to die in Cincinnati. So concluded an independent investigation by Kroll Inc. of the July 19 traffic stop that ended with a University of Cincinnati police officer shooting DuBose in the head. The report says officer Ray Tensing used poor judgment and improper police tactics before the shooting and misled superiors about what happened, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Investigators said it was appropriate for Tensing to pull DuBose over for driving without a front license plate. Tensing made several critical errors that caused the situation to spiral out of control. DuBose “did nothing to help the situation” when he started his car and attempted to drive away, the report says, but Tensing made tactical errors when he drew his gun and reached into the car.
Instead of escalating the encounter, the report states, Tensing should have let the unarmed DuBose go. “Tensing set in motion the fatal chain of events that led to the death of DuBose,” the report states. “This incident, which resulted in a tragic loss of life, was entirely preventable.” DuBose’s death drew national attention and prompted the university to revamp oversight of its police department. It also led the university to hire Kroll, a risk consulting firm, to review the shooting and recommend reforms. Tensing, who is charged with murder, is free on bond. His trial, initially scheduled to start Nov. 16, has been postponed. Tensing has said he was being dragged by DuBose’s car and fired the fatal shot to defend himself. His attorney, Stew Mathews, said the Kroll report doesn’t accurately describe what happened that day.