Donovan Lewis: Family attorney laments 'barbaric' police killings

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Standing in front of a dozen or so family members ofDonovan Lewis, attorney Rex Elliott addressed reporters Thursday about Tuesday's police shooting that left the 20-year-old dead in his bed.

"These are the faces of just a few of the many people that have had their lives altered forever," Elliott began his remarks, referencing Lewis' loved ones.

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Lewis was killed as officers served an early-morning warrant for domestic violence, assault and improper handling of a firearm. Police body-camera video released Wednesday showed the tense moments inside the small apartment where three officers and a barking police dog were trying to get Lewis to come out of his room. The door was closed until Officer Ricky Anderson, who had the police dog's collar in his left hand, was seen using his right hand to open the door to Lewis' bedroom.

The video showed Anderson, just a second or two later, with his gun in his right hand, fire the shot that killed Lewis.

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"Donovan was asleep before police officers arrived and had no warning," Elliott said. "Officer Anderson opened the door and almost immediately fired a shot into the bedroom as Donovan was trying to get out of the bed."

Elliott also wondered why a second officer who presumably had a better view of Lewis once the bedroom door opened didn't fire his gun.

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"Ask yourself why the police officer who had the clearest view ... did not discharge his weapon," Elliott said.

Elliott showed the video during Thursday's news conference, saying, "As hard as that is to watch, it is important because it tells us exactly what happened."

"Donovan Lewis was 20 years old at the time of his utterly senseless death," Elliott continued. "How many more lives are going to be lost due to this kind of reckless activity?"

Citing "these barbaric killings," Elliott called on police and city leaders to enact "immediate reform" of policing.

"It is time to do something significantly more drastic," he said. "We can't lose one more kid by virtue of a police officer recklessly firing his gun."

Tuesday's police shooting was the third in Columbus in a span of eight days.

The Columbus Police Department has not responded directly to Elliott's statement from Wednesday or his remarks from Thursday's news conference.

Anderson is now on administrative leave, which is standard protocol. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating.

"I look forward to reviewing the findings of the investigation," Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown said. "We must take action to enact meaningful law enforcement reform."