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Cincinnati • A University of Cincinnati officer who shot and killed a motorist during a traffic stop over a missing front license plate was indicted Wednesday on a murder charge. A prosecutor said the officer "purposely killed him" and "should never have been a police officer."

Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters announced the grand jury indictment at a news conference to discuss developments in the investigation into the July 19 shooting of motorist Samuel DuBose, 43, by Officer Ray Tensing.

Authorities said Tensing spotted a car driven by DuBose missing a front license plate, which is required by Ohio law. They say Tensing stopped the car and a struggle ensued after DuBose refused to provide a driver's license and get out of the car.

Tensing, 25, said he was dragged by the car and forced to shoot DuBose. He fired once, striking DuBose in the head.

But Deters dismissed Tensing's claim that he was dragged by the car and suggested that he shouldn't have pulled DuBose over to begin with.

"He fell backward after he shot [DuBose] in the head," Deters said, adding that it was a "chicken crap" traffic stop.

On the body-camera video, the officer could be heard asking for DuBose's driver's license several times, and DuBose at one point said he had one. Later, DuBose said, "But I don't think I have it on me."

Tensing asks DuBose to unbuckle his seat belt. About that time, Tensing pulls on the door handle, and DuBose puts his hand on the door to keep it closed. The video becomes shaky, a gunshot can be heard, and DuBose appears to be slumped in the seat before the car rolls away, coming to stop at a nearby corner.

The University of Cincinnati said it fired Tensing after his indictment. Tensing turned himself in Wednesday afternoon at the Hamilton County Justice Center and was processed on charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter.

Tensing's attorney, Stewart Mathews, said earlier Wednesday that he thought an indictment was likely "given the political climate" and comments made by city officials. But Mathews said given the evidence he's seen, he doesn't believe there should be an indictment.

Deters called the shooting "senseless" and "asinine." "He purposely killed him. He should never have been a police officer." The prosecutor also said he thought it was time to reconsider the U.C. police department's role. "I don't think a university should be in the policing business."

The university said earlier this week it plans an independent review of its police department's policies.

Tensing made the traffic stop near the university's main campus. U.C. police have said the intersection was within the campus police's jurisdiction.

The University of Cincinnati on Wednesday closed its main campus in anticipation of grand jury action in the case.

Mark O'Mara, attorney for DuBose's family, called for a "peaceful and nonaggressive" response from the community after the officer's indictment. O'Mara said the family wanted a peaceful reaction because "Sam was a peaceful person."

Tensing has more than five years of experience in law enforcement and has worked as a University of Cincinnati police officer since April 2014, said Jason Goodrich, U.C. police chief.