Sam DuBose's 'Bottle of Gin' Was Really Fragrance

He was asked about bottle just before he was shot in head
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 4, 2015 5:52 AM CDT
Updated Aug 4, 2015 6:17 AM CDT
Black Motorist Shot by Cop Had Fragrance, Not Booze
Former University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing appears at Hamilton County Courthouse for his arraignment in the shooting death of motorist Samuel DuBose.   (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The bottle of "gin" that unarmed black motorist Sam DuBose was asked about moments before he was shot dead by University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing didn't contain any booze, the coroner says. The coroner says lab analysis has revealed that the bottle, which was labeled as gin, actually contained what seems to be air freshener or perfume, the AP reports. Tensing has been charged with murder in the July 19 death of DuBose, who was pulled over for a missing license plate, and some commentators suspect that the apparent presence of alcohol affected how he dealt with the man, Mediaite notes.

DuBose, a 43-year-old father of 11, wasn't married and his mother has asked to be appointed administrator of his estate and has taken steps toward filing a lawsuit, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. One of the attorneys representing the family is Mark O'Mara, who is best known as George Zimmerman's lawyer in the Trayvon Martin trial, the Enquirer notes. Tensing, 25, has pleaded not guilty to murder, arguing that he thought he would be dragged by DuBose's car, although body camera footage doesn't match his account. (Tensing has been fired, but his union is demanding that he get his job back.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X