A second grand jury has declined to indict a former Tucson police officer on a manslaughter charge after he shot and killed a man in a mobility scooter last year.
On Wednesday, the second grand jury returned a no bill vote regarding Ryan Remington’s case. Last month, Superior Court Judge Danelle Liwski ordered the indictment be returned to the grand jury after Remington’s attorneys Mike Storie and Natasha Wrae, challenged the indictment over misleading statements in a report read to the grand jury that previously indicted Remington.
In August, Pima County Attorney Laura Conover announced Remington’s indictment at a press conference. When asked about the second grand jury’s decision, the Pima County Attorney’s Office provided a statement from Conover: “Victim notification is our focus and top priority at this time, as the matter continues under our review.”
In November 2021, Remington was working off-duty security at a Walmart store on Tucson’s south side when he confronted Richard Lee Richards, 61, about a stolen toolbox and threatening a store employee with a knife.
Richards, who was using a motorized scooter, continued to head through the Walmart and Lowe’s parking lots as Remington and another officer followed him, yelling at him to stop as he approached the Lowe’s garden section entrance. Remington then fired his gun, striking Richards nine times and killing him.
Remington was later fired from the Tucson Police Department following the shooting.
Richards’ family has filed a civil rights lawsuit against him and the City of Tucson.
The lawsuit was filed in September in federal court on behalf of Richard Lee Richards and Victoria Richards, his sister.
Also, a request to disqualify Conover’s office from the case was denied by a judge last year.
The court found there was no conflict of interest and on Oct. 28 denied the motion to disqualify the office and Conover, Superior Court records say.
The court also declined to order sanctions against Conover as requested by Remington’s attorneys, court records show.
WARNING: This video contains graphic content. Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said in a press conference Tuesday that an officer will be fired after shooting and killing a man in a motorized wheelchair. The shooting occurred at a Lowe's Home Improvement store Monday evening when officers responded to a call reporting the suspect was shoplifting.
