A former Ohio police officer was found guilty of murder Monday for shooting Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a cellphone and keys when he was killed. Official Adam Coywho served nearly 20 years on the Columbus police, shot Hill four times in a garage nearly four years ago. Coy, who is white, was fired after the shooting. He later told jurors he thought Hill was holding a silver revolver.

“I thought I was going to die,” he testified. It was only after rolling over Hill’s body and seeing the keys that he realized there was no gun, Coy said. “At that moment I knew I had made a mistake. I was horrified.”

Coy, who was partially hidden from view by his grim-faced attorneys, did not visibly react to the verdict, but gasps could be heard in the courtroom when it was announced. Prosecutors asked that the former officer be sentenced immediately, but Franklin County Judge Stephen McIntosh set the sentencing date for Nov. 25.

Police body camera footage showed Hill leaving the garage of a friend’s house holding a cellphone in his left hand, his right hand not visible, seconds before Coy fatally shot him. Nearly 10 minutes passed before officers at the scene began helping Hill, who lay bleeding on the garage floor. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Weeks after the December 2020 shooting, the mayor forced the police chief to resign following a series of deadly police shootings against Black men and boys. Columbus subsequently reached a $10 million settlement with the Hill family, the largest in the city’s history. The Columbus City Council also passed Andre’s Law, which requires police officers to provide immediate medical attention to an injured suspect.

Prosecutors said Hill, 47, had followed the officer’s orders and was never a threat to Coy, who now faces at least 15 years in prison.

“We’re taught to do what the police tell you and you can survive that encounter,” Franklin County Deputy Prosecutor Anthony Pierson said during closing arguments. “That’s not what happened here.”

The officer’s attorneys argued that Hill’s lack of a gun didn’t matter because Coy thought his life was in danger. “It wasn’t reckless, it was reasonable,” said attorney Mark Collins.

Coy had gone to the neighborhood to investigate a complaint about someone inside a moving vehicle when he first encountered Hill sitting in a pickup truck. Hill told Coy he was waiting for a friend to come out.

The officer said he thought Hill seemed dismissive and then suspicious after he walked up to a house and knocked on the door before entering the garage.

Prosecutors asked Coy why he didn’t ask Hill for his name or call for backup if he was so worried. CBS affiliate WBNS-TV reported. Coy said Hill only partially obeyed his commands and hid his right hand.

“I thought he was going to draw. I pulled out my gun and fired four shots,” Coy said.

According to WBNS-TV, prosecutors asked Coy if Hill was obeying their orders, and Coy responded, “Partially hiding. His right hand was behind his leg.”

Coy was asked if he asked Hill to show his hands, the station reported.

Coy said, “It happened too fast, sir.”

Coy said he lost sight of Hill and suspected he might be trying to force his way into the house. Coy used a flashlight to locate Hill in the garage and told him to get out, the officer testified.

When Hill walked toward him, Coy said he couldn’t see the man’s right hand and then saw what he thought was a revolver. He said he yelled, “Gun! Gun!” and then shot Hill.

Family and friends said Hill, a father and grandfather, was devoted to his family and was a skilled businessman who dreamed of one day owning his own restaurant, after years of working as a chef and restaurant manager.

Coy had a long history of resident complaints, with more than three dozen filed against him since he joined the department in 2002, according to his personnel file. A dozen complaints were for use of force. All but a few were marked as “unfounded” or “unsupported.”