Tucson cop fired after fatally shooting man in wheelchair who was suspected of stealing, threatening store staff with knife

On Tuesday, a Tucson police officer was fired after he fatally shot a man in a wheelchair nine times who was suspected of stealing a toolbox from Walmart and brandishing a knife when asked about the item.

Officer Ryan Remington was reportedly working off-duty on a special duty assignment at a Tucson Walmart when his attention was drawn to 61-year-old Richard Lee Richards at around 6pm on Monday by an employee, according to the Tuscan Police Department. The employee said that Richards had stolen a toolbox.

Remington and the employee followed Richards into the parking lot, where they attempted to gain his cooperation.

When Richards was asked by an employee to see the receipt for the item, Richards reported brandished a knife and said "Here's your receipt."

Richards continued to travel through the Walmart parking lot on his motorized wheelchair, towards a nearby Lowe's.

According to the Walmart employee, Richards said, "If you want me to put down the knife, you're going to have to shoot me."

Video shows Remington following Richards through the parking lot, talking with dispatch while attempting to get Richards to cooperate.

Richards then appears to enter Lowe's which was when Officer Stephanie Taylor arrived. Both officers warn Richards not to enter the stores and repeatedly tell him to drop his weapon.

As Taylor draws her gun, Remington shoots Richards nine times in the back.

Lowe's cameras captured Remington handcuffing Richards, when others approach to give first aid. Richards was reportedly dead soon after the shooting.

"To be clear, I am deeply troubled by Officer Remington's actions. 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 training. As a result, the department moved earlier today to terminate Officer Remington," wrote Chief of Police Chris Magnus.

He noted that the incident is being investigated by the Pima County Attorney's Office.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Magnus announced that Remington had been fired as a result.

"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," Chief Magnus said, according to The New York Times "As a result, the department moved earlier today to terminate Officer Remington."

Mayor Regina Romero of Tucson called Remington's actions "unconscionable and indefensible."

"The county attorney has my full support as they proceed with their investigation," she said in a statement. "It is moments like this that test our resolve to ensure justice and accountability."

The lawyer representing Remington, Mike Storie, called Romero and Magnus' comments a politically motivated rush to judgement.

"This event happened roughly 24 hours ago," he said late Tuesday, "and we have a chief of police who has fired the officer and the mayor who is calling for his indictment. These are unbelievable circumstances that I've never seen."

Storie said that Remington, who was a member of the Tucson Police Department for four years, "attempted to de-escalate the situation" until Richards's actions gave him "no choice but to use deadly force."

"The review of the entire video and circumstances would support his position," Mr. Storie said, acknowledging that he himself had not seen the entirety of video footage. "I've just seen the cut-and-paste dog-and-pony show presented by Chief Magnus."

Storie noted that the number of shots Remington took was influenced by his police training.

"Officers are trained that if they perceive a serious and imminent deadly threat, "Mr. Storie said, “they are to fire multiple times until they perceive the threat is removed."

Brick P. Stortz III, a lawyer who had recently represented Mr. Richards in criminal matters that included a charge of transporting illegal immigrants, according to The New York Times, said his client had a lengthy criminal history to going as far back as to when he was a teenager. That history included being charged and convicted of attempted first-degree murder.

Stortz said though that the shooting of his client was "horrifying and over the top."

"It was just so bizarre," he said. "I could understand how he could maybe be a problem, but you don’t shoot someone in the back nine times in a wheelchair. If you did it, you’d be looking at more problems than you’d care to believe."