CINCINNATI — Each of the 13 children of a black motorist killed by a white University of Cincinnati police officer during a traffic stop for a minor violation will receive nearly $218,000 as part of a wrongful death settlement, a judge ruled Monday.
Hamilton County Probate Judge Ralph “Ted” Winkler also ordered that Samuel DuBose’s six siblings each receive $32,000, his mother $90,000, and his father $25,000.
The family and the university had reached a $4.9 million settlement in January, following the July 2015 shooting death of the 43-year-old Du-Bose by officer Ray Tensing. The university subsequently fired the 26-year-old Tensing, who has pleaded innocent to murder.
DuBose was shot by the officer as he tried to drive away from a traffic stop for a missing front license plate.
The judge ruled DuBose’s children, who range in age from 4 to 23, should get $217,816.76 each from the settlement. About $1.67 million will go to attorneys.
Winkler said “the children have suffered the greatest loss, and the greatest amount of the settlement proceeds should be provided to [his] children.”
Michael Wright, one of many attorneys involved in the case, told The Cincinnati Enquirer that Winkler’s ruling should help the family and “give them the opportunity to start the healing process.”