Former Tucson police officer indicted on manslaughter charge for shooting armed suspect 9 times

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD News 13/3TV/CBS 5/AP) - The former Tucson police officer who shot and killed an armed suspect in a mobility scooter is facing a manslaughter charge. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said a grand jury indicted Ryan Remington on Wednesday. On Thursday, a summons for him to appear in court was issued. Remington will be arraigned next week, Conover said. “This tragedy greatly impacted the Tucson community and this department. Today, we received notice that Ryan Remington has been indicted by a grand jury and faces criminal charges. This is now a matter for the courts to adjudicate,” Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar said in a statement.

Prosecutors said Remington faces a sentence of between three to 12 ½ years if he’s convicted. Remington’s attorney Mike Storie said his client was looking forward to an unbiased jury considering the case. John Bradley, a lawyer for the victim’s family, said the family plans to proceed with a separate civil suit against Remington in the next few weeks.

Remington, a four-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department, was working as security at the Walmart near Midvale Park and Valencia Road on Nov. 29, 2021. A store employee told Remington that 61-year-old Richard Lee Richards, who was in a mobility scooter, stole a toolbox from the store. The employee and Remington followed Richards and asked for a receipt. Richards responded, “Here’s your receipt,” pulled out a knife, and kept moving. Richards said, “if you want me to put down the knife, you’re going to have to shoot me.”

Another officer, Stephanie Taylor, arrived just as Richards reached the garden center of a nearby Lowe’s Home Improvement store. Remington ordered Richards to stay away from the store entrance, but Richards ignored him. Remington then shot Richards nine times, causing him to fall out of his scooter. Richards died at the scene.

Remington was suspended after the shooting and was terminated Jan. 5.

KOLD’s Valerie Cavazos has been following the case for months. In July, she talked with the PCAO about why the case was taking so long.

Graphic Video From Incident

Below is an edited version of the video of the fatal shooting. KOLD has chosen not to show the whole video due to its graphic nature.

Suspect’s Past

According to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Richards has a long, violent criminal history. In 1981, he was found guilty of burglary and sentenced to seven years. In 1986, he was convicted of armed robbery and was sentenced to 15 years. In 2007, he was convicted of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest. He was released in January 2018.

In early 2020, Richards was sentenced in federal court on a charge of “transporting illegal aliens for profit.” In November 2020, his probation was revoked, and he was sentenced to five months in prison. He was set to start serving that sentence in April 2021.

According to a 2021 sentencing memo, Richards had a hip replacement while in prison, and it “did not heal properly.” His attorney at the time, Brick P. Storts III, said that is why he was in a wheelchair.

[Evidence expert weighs in on TPD shooting, calls it “shocking”]

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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