The Tucson police officer who fatally shot and killed a man in a wheelchair has been fired, the department says

By Claudia Dominguez and Amy Simonson, CNN

An Arizona police officer who fatally shot and killed a man in a wheelchair in November was released Wednesday after an internal investigation was completed, Tucson Police Chief Chris Mangus said in a statement posted on the department’s website.

Ryan Remington’s termination is effective immediately, the statement said, and he has 10 days to appeal to the Tucson Civil Service Commission, the statement said.

Police began firing Remington the day after he opened fire on a shoplifting suspect accused of pulling a knife when confronted outside a Walmart.

A video released by the Tucson Police Department showed Remington steps behind the wheelchair man who was identified by police as 61-year-old Richard Lee Richards. The officer told Richards to stop before firing nine shots – and hitting him in the back and side – when the man walked into another store, according to police.

A Remington attorney said at the time that the video released by police did not provide a complete picture of the events leading up to the shootings.

“Due to the due process required by law, no further information may be made available until the appeal process and any follow-up proceedings have been concluded,” said the police statement on Remington’s dismissal.

CNN reached out to Remington’s attorney on Wednesday but didn’t hear an immediate response.

Police chief: shooting was “a clear violation of department policy”

Richards had been accused of stealing a Walmart toolbox when a staff member contacted an off-duty Tucson police officer who was on special duty in the store, according to an earlier statement from Magnus.

Remington joined the Walmart employee in the parking lot and followed Richards as he “tried to win his cooperation,” the police chief said in a statement.

“According to the employee, he caught up with Mr. Richards outside when he was escaping the store and asked for a receipt for the toolbox. Instead of showing the receipt, Mr. Richards waved a knife and said, ‘Here’s your receipt.’ “

Magnus said Remington wanted Richards to stop and give up his knife.

“Mr. Richards refused to comply and instead drove through the Walmart and Lowe parking lots,” said Magnus.

“I left a male suspect who had just stolen a shoplifting in front of me and pulled a knife at me,” Remington radioed.

“According to the Walmart agent, Mr. Richards said, ‘If you want me to put the knife down, you must shoot me.'”

A second officer arrived to help Remington.

Both officers were a short distance behind Richards when they warned him not to go into the shop, said the boss.

The video shows Richards beginning to walk into Lowe’s when Remington tells him, “Don’t go into the store, sir.” Seconds later, the cop starts shooting at Richards, who slumps down and falls from his chair to the floor.

Remington fired nine shots, according to Magnus.

“His use of lethal force in this incident is a clear violation of department policy and directly contradicts several aspects of our violence training,” said Magnus.

Lawyer: Videos “are only half the story”

The surveillance and police body camera video released by the police offers three camera views: a Walmart parking lot surveillance camera, a police body camera, and a Lowe surveillance camera. Two of the videos show the fatal shooting of Richards as he rolled away from officials in the Lowe’s parking lot. Parts of the police radio are shown in the video clips.

The video did not contain any timestamps – so it is unclear how much time has passed between clips. CNN requested the raw footage from Tucson police, but the request was denied.

Attorney Michael Storie, who represents Remington, said in an interview with CNN: “The selected clips presented at this press conference are only half the story.”

“When you cut and paste a video, all of these things do not properly reflect the officer’s impressions and state of mind, leading to a decision to use violence,” said Storie.

A clip from Lowe’s surveillance camera footage shows Richards lying on the floor immediately after the shot when the officer appears to be pulling his hands behind his back to handcuff him.

Remington was the only officer who fired his weapon, according to Magnus.

Medical care was called to the scene, “but Mr. Richards was pronounced dead a short time later,” said the police chief.

Magnus said the incident is being investigated by the Pima County Attorney’s Office.

The CNN Wire
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