A police officer who fatally shot a naked and unarmed veteran in Georgia in March 2015 has been indicted on six counts, including murder, according to The New York Times.
Robert Olsen shot 27-year-old Anthony Hill last year after receiving reports of a man with erratic behavior outside an apartment building. Hill had served in the U.S. Air Force and was reported by his family to have struggled with mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, The Washington Times reported.
Hill was allegedly wandering naked outside the apartment building and had been reported to the police by a resident, according to the New York Daily News. Friends have claimed that his actions were likely prompted by the medication he took for his illnesses.
Olsen claimed that he believed Hill to be high on drugs and that he was worried for his safety at the time, although his claim that Hill lunged and hit at him has been questioned by DKalb County District Attorney Robert James, The National Post reported.
The fact that Olsen, a white police officer, shot an unarmed black man, means that the case has gained significant public attention in the current political climate. Many protestors and supporters camped outside the courthouse for days to show support for Hill and his family.
"The message is that you have to be accountable for your own actions," Hill's mother Carolyn Giummo said following the indictment, according to the National Post. "When you decide to do something, if it's not right, there are consequences and you have to be held accountable for it."
Olsen is charged with two counts of violating oath of office, one of aggravated assault, one of making a false statement and two counts of murder. A warrant was issued for his arrest on Thursday, and he is expected to be taken into custody shortly.
