The city of Tucson, Arizona fired police officer Ryan Remington after Remington shot a 61-year-old man confined to a wheelchair nine times when the man brandished a knife, stating Remington had violated the police department use-of-force guidelines, the Associated Press reports.
Saying he was “deeply disturbed and troubled” after viewing the bodycam footage of Remington’s actions, Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said, “His use of deadly force in this incident is a clear violation of department policy and directly contradicts multiple aspects of our use of force and training.”
On a security detail at a local Walmart, Remington was informed by a store employee that Richard Lee Richards was trying to steal a toolbox. After Richards rolled out of the store, Remington and the store employee confronted the man and asked to see a receipt.
Richards instead pulled out a hunting knife, saying “Here’s my receipt!” and he kept moving to a home improvement store in the same shopping center. Remington ordered Richards to not enter the store and to drop the knife. When Richards continued on, Remington shot him nine times.