As shown by body camera footage, Jayland Walker was unarmed and fleeing when eight Ohio officers opened fire on him on June 27 in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood.
The officers attempted to pull over Walker for a traffic violation in the dead of night. Walker refused to stop, setting off a chase. One ramp later, he was off Route 8 and continued through side streets. Walker, who was wearing a ski mask, jumped out of the vehicle before it came to a full stop.
The officers had radioed that they heard at least one gunshot coming from Walker’s vehicle before the incident, and multiple officers pursued him. Walker ran away, and as the officers fired their weapons at him, he seemingly turned around to look.
During a news conference, Police Chief Steve Mylett called for patience as the investigation continued. He stated that none of the officers had been interviewed by investigators, and all of the officers are on paid leave.
Bobby Dicello, an attorney for Walker’s family, said that Walker was unarmed when he was killed.
Mylett added, while the video confirmed that Walker was unarmed while he was shot, the footage captured a handgun with a separate loaded magazine in Walker’s car.
The officers deployed stun guns, but according to Mylett, they had no effect.
DiCello questioned Good Morning America, asking, “Why do eight men shoot him, mostly from behind, as he’s running away?” Continuing, he says, “Just sprinting away from these men, he is shot as he starts to turn and look over his shoulder.”
Derrick Johnson, the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, says that the Akron Police Department has “blood on its hands.”
Public protests have also demanded answers for Jayland Walker, and why he was shot down for an alleged traffic violation.
As DiCello says, “He wasn’t a criminal, he was obviously in pain. He didn’t deserve to die.”
Article: Jayland Walker was unarmed when 8 Ohio officers opened fire on him, body camera footage shows – ABC News (go.com)
The officers attempted to pull over Walker for a traffic violation in the dead of night. Walker refused to stop, setting off a chase. One ramp later, he was off Route 8 and continued through side streets. Walker, who was wearing a ski mask, jumped out of the vehicle before it came to a full stop.
The officers had radioed that they heard at least one gunshot coming from Walker’s vehicle before the incident, and multiple officers pursued him. Walker ran away, and as the officers fired their weapons at him, he seemingly turned around to look.
During a news conference, Police Chief Steve Mylett called for patience as the investigation continued. He stated that none of the officers had been interviewed by investigators, and all of the officers are on paid leave.
Bobby Dicello, an attorney for Walker’s family, said that Walker was unarmed when he was killed.
Mylett added, while the video confirmed that Walker was unarmed while he was shot, the footage captured a handgun with a separate loaded magazine in Walker’s car.
The officers deployed stun guns, but according to Mylett, they had no effect.
DiCello questioned Good Morning America, asking, “Why do eight men shoot him, mostly from behind, as he’s running away?” Continuing, he says, “Just sprinting away from these men, he is shot as he starts to turn and look over his shoulder.”
Derrick Johnson, the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, says that the Akron Police Department has “blood on its hands.”
Public protests have also demanded answers for Jayland Walker, and why he was shot down for an alleged traffic violation.
As DiCello says, “He wasn’t a criminal, he was obviously in pain. He didn’t deserve to die.”
Article: Jayland Walker was unarmed when 8 Ohio officers opened fire on him, body camera footage shows – ABC News (go.com)
