Akron, Ohio- Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old black man, was killed in a hail of bullets while he was unarmed and running away.
Body camera footage released during the fourth of July weekend showed two police officers attempting to pull over Walker for a traffic violation and an equipment violation with his car around 12:30 a.m. in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood. Police claimed Walker refused to stop which resulted in a chase that ended his life.
One of the two police body cameras showed police pursuing Walker’s silver Buick onto Route 8 in Akron. A voice that narrated the video said, “a sound consistent with a gunshot can be heard” from the driver’s side of Walker’s car. Akron Police Chief Stephan Mylett told reporters a flash of light that appeared to be the muzzle flash of a gun Walker fired was seen in the second video.
“That changes the whole nature” of the incident, Mylett said, turning a “routine traffic stop” into a “public safety issue.”
The second video showed the police officers continuing the pursuit off Route 8 and onto side streets. At one point, Walker slowed his car down and jumped out of the vehicle before it could fully stop. As Walker exited through the front passenger side of the car, he could be seen wearing a black ski mask.
Despite the shooting occurring more than a week ago, none of the officers involved in the shooting have been interviewed by investigators. Instead, they have been put on paid administrative leave until the outcome of the investigation, led by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, has been determined.
Following the news conference that released the videos, an attorney for Walker’s family, Bobby DiCello, stated Walker was unarmed when he was killed. Mylett confirmed this when footage showed a gold ring, loaded magazine, and handgun left behind on the driver’s seat of Walker’s car as Walker fled the vehicle.
Now, dozens of protestors march the streets of Akron demanding answers and justice for another black man killed due to the U.S. Homeland Security system.
Sources:
What we know about the fatal police shooting of Jayland Walker – CNN
Jayland Walker was unarmed when 8 Ohio officers opened fire on him, body camera footage shows – ABC News (go.com)
Body camera footage released during the fourth of July weekend showed two police officers attempting to pull over Walker for a traffic violation and an equipment violation with his car around 12:30 a.m. in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood. Police claimed Walker refused to stop which resulted in a chase that ended his life.
One of the two police body cameras showed police pursuing Walker’s silver Buick onto Route 8 in Akron. A voice that narrated the video said, “a sound consistent with a gunshot can be heard” from the driver’s side of Walker’s car. Akron Police Chief Stephan Mylett told reporters a flash of light that appeared to be the muzzle flash of a gun Walker fired was seen in the second video.
“That changes the whole nature” of the incident, Mylett said, turning a “routine traffic stop” into a “public safety issue.”
The second video showed the police officers continuing the pursuit off Route 8 and onto side streets. At one point, Walker slowed his car down and jumped out of the vehicle before it could fully stop. As Walker exited through the front passenger side of the car, he could be seen wearing a black ski mask.
Despite the shooting occurring more than a week ago, none of the officers involved in the shooting have been interviewed by investigators. Instead, they have been put on paid administrative leave until the outcome of the investigation, led by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, has been determined.
Following the news conference that released the videos, an attorney for Walker’s family, Bobby DiCello, stated Walker was unarmed when he was killed. Mylett confirmed this when footage showed a gold ring, loaded magazine, and handgun left behind on the driver’s seat of Walker’s car as Walker fled the vehicle.
Now, dozens of protestors march the streets of Akron demanding answers and justice for another black man killed due to the U.S. Homeland Security system.
Sources:
What we know about the fatal police shooting of Jayland Walker – CNN
Jayland Walker was unarmed when 8 Ohio officers opened fire on him, body camera footage shows – ABC News (go.com)
