COLUMBUS, Ohio — The family of Donovan Lewis filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Columbus and its police department.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday by law firms Cooper Elliott and Wright & Schulte, accuses the Columbus Division of Police of systemic excessive force and racial issues.
Attorney Rex Elliot alleges that recent department initiatives, such as increasing law enforcement in the Hilltop and Franklinton neighborhoods in west Columbus, deploy aggressive tactics in predominantly Black neighborhoods.
Elliott also says that the shooting death of 20-year-old Donovan Lewis “underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform within the Columbus Division of Police.”
On Aug. 20, 2022, Columbus police were at an apartment complex on Sullivant Avenue to arrest Lewis on multiple warrants including domestic violence and assault.
Police body camera footage showed Officer Ricky Anderson opening a bedroom door in an apartment and immediately shooting Lewis, who was in bed.
Lewis appeared to be holding a vape pen before he was shot. No weapon was found.
According to the coroner’s report, Lewis died within minutes of being shot. He was shot in the abdomen and the bullet damaged internal organs before becoming lodged in his pelvis.
Toxicology testing found nicotine and THC in Lewis' blood. The report does not indicate if Lewis was under the influence at the time of his death.
Anderson, a 30-year veteran of the police department, was indicted for murder and reckless homicide. He retired from the department in bad standing in March 2023.
"Through this lawsuit, Donovan's family seeks accountability, fair compensation, and systemic reforms to prevent future tragedies like the unjust death of their beloved son and brother," Elliott said in a statement. “It is imperative that the City of Columbus and its police department address these longstanding issues and commit to meaningful change to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. Enough is enough."
City officials did not have a comment when asked about the lawsuit.