Tucson police officer who shot and killed man in a wheelchair has been fired

The officer who shot and killed a man in a motorized wheelchair on Nov. 29 has been fired by the Tucson Police Department.

Under the direction of Chief Chad Kasmar, Ryan Remington, who was hired on Jan. 6, 2017, was terminated from his job on Wednesday, a statement from TPD said.

Remington plans to appeal the decision to the city Civil Service Commission, which must occur within 10 days, his attorney said Wednesday.

Former Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus had moved to fire Remington after the incident, stating that he was “deeply troubled by Remington’s actions.”

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero also described Remington’s actions as “unconscionable and indefensible.”

On Nov. 29, a Walmart employee alerted Remington after Richard Lee Richards, 61, reportedly stole a toolbox, a press release from TPD said.

According to police, the employee said he caught up with Richards as he fled the store and asked for a receipt for the items he was carrying, to which Richards flashed a knife and replied, “Here’s my receipt.”

Remington and another officer followed Richards to a nearby Lowe’s on Valencia Road on Tucson’s south side and yelled at him to stop as he approached the garden section entrance.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Remington then fired at Richards nine times, striking him in the back and the side, police said. He was declared dead at the scene.

In December, the Pima County Attorney’s Office launched a review of the incident. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said her office received the bulk of necessary evidence from TPD to begin to evaluate the facts of the case and conduct the investigation.

As of Wednesday, the Pima County Attorney’s Office said the review was still underway and no charges had been filed.

John Bradley, the lawyer who represents Richards’ sister, Victoria, said the decision to fire Remington is a step in the right direction.

“This is now the second Tucson police chief to review the available information and conclude that Ryan Remington’s actions were not justified,” Bradley said.

The decision to fire Remington did not come as a shock to Remington’s attorney, Mike Storie.

“It’s not at all surprising given how they jumped to conclusions before the investigation was complete,” Storie said.