Family of man killed by Lockland police believes he was likely 'innocent bystander'
The family of a man fatally shot by a Lockland police officer early Wednesday morning is seeking answers, believing he was simply a bystander when he was confronted by authorities responding to a pursuit that ended in Evendale.
Samuel Mumyarutete, 48, of Woodlawn, was a refugee fleeing a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his family said in a statement Friday through their attorney.
"Although we know the police were involved in a high-speed chase in the area, we have received no information that our father was involved in any aspect of that chase," the statement reads. "We believe he may have been an innocent bystander."
West Chester Township police began the pursuit at the intersection of Princeton Glendale Road and Provident Drive after they received notification from a license plate reader of a stolen vehicle, according to a township spokeswoman.
Officers located the vehicle and attempted to pull it over, but the driver fled.
West Chester officers pursued the vehicle for approximately six miles and ended the chase at the Hamilton County line, where other departments picked it up. Several police departments responded at about 2:45 a.m. to assist when the chase entered Hamilton County, according to Evendale police.
The vehicle being pursued was found crashed near Glendale Milford Road and Evendale Drive, though occupants of the vehicle were not found there, officials said.
After one suspect had been taken into custody, a Lockland officer located Mumyarutete walking along the interstate, according to Lockland police.
Mumyarutete was holding something and refused to obey police commands, police said, adding the Lockland officer tried to stop Mumyarutete with a Taser but was unsuccessful.
As Mumyarutete continued to disobey commands, the officer opened fire and struck him in the chest, police said.
Mumyarutete was not fluent in English and relied on a translation app on his cellphone, his family said.
The Ohio Bureau of Investigation was called to handle the shooting inquiry, as commonly happens after police shootings in the state. However, officials have yet to release body camera footage of the shooting and what led up to it.
"We are optimistic that there will be a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation," the family's statement reads. "We are hopeful that we will be provided answers soon."
Hamilton County Municipal Court records show Mumyarutete was arrested March 14 on a misdemeanor assault charge after he allegedly attacked someone with a metal pole.
He was released from jail on his own recognizance, meaning the court trusted Mumyarutete to return for future hearings without posting a monetary bond, just two days before the shooting.
The court records indicate Mumyarutete planned to argue that he acted in self-defense.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Family of man shot, killed by Lockland police had fled from civil war
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