HuffPost

New details in the case of Sam DuBose reveal that the former University of Cincinnati police officer accused of killing him was wearing a T-shirt depicting a Confederate flag under his uniform at the time of the shooting.

The shirt was presented as evidence in the murder trial against Ray Tensing on Friday, according to USA Today. Along with the Confederate flag, Tensing’s shirt read “Great Smoky Mountains, 1934.” 

The ex-cop’s family members, as well as others in the courtroom, were reportedly surprised by the evidence, Cincinnati.com reports. Ohio Senator Cecil Thomas (D-OH), who was in the courtroom while it was being presented as evidence, told the site that the shirt “speaks to Tensing’s mindset.”

“The flag is contrary to everything the African-American community represents,” Thomas told Cincinnati.com. “Every officer is representing the community... He had to wake up, make the conscious decision to put it on as part of his uniform. He had to recognize in his own mind what he was wearing.” 

Tensing, who is white, pulled the 43-year-old over near the college’s campus on July 19, 2015 for not having a front license plate. After DuBose, who is black, failed to produce a license, the then-cop told him to step out of the car. When DuBose refused, Tensing reached in the unarmed man’s car and fatally shot him in the head.  

The former officer claimed that he fired his gun because DuBose was dragging him with his car and almost ran him over. The body camera footage, however, shows that wasn’t the case.

During a press conference after Tensing was charged, Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters said that Tensing “purposefully killed” DuBose and called the incident “the most asinine act I’ve ever seen a police officer make.” During Friday’s trial, a use-of-force expert testified on behalf of the prosecution that DuBose didn’t present a threat to Tensing at the time of the shooting, according to the Associated Press. 

Tensing is being charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter in the death of DuBose.