Akron, Ohio – A black man shot and killed by Akron police officers in a hail of bullets following a vehicle and chase was unarmed at the time of the shooting, but a shot appeared to have come from the vehicle during the chase, and officers said, that they feared he was preparing to fire when they unloaded their weapons, authorities said.
On Sunday, police released a video the mayor called “heartbreaking” of the pursuit and shooting of Jayland Walker, 25, while asking for peace and patience from the community as the state’s investigation into the shooting continues.
Chief Steve Maillett said officers tried to stop Walker’s car for unspecified traffic and equipment violations, but less than a minute into the chase, a gunshot was heard from the car and a transportation department camera caught what appeared to be lightning. , coming from the vehicle. Mylett said that changed the nature of the case from “a routine traffic stop to now a public safety issue.”
Police said a few minutes later, the car slowed and Walker got out of the still-moving vehicle, wearing a ski mask, and fled on foot. A handgun, a loaded magazine and a wedding ring were found on the seat, and a shell casing matching the weapon was later found where officers believed a shot had come from the vehicle.
After a failed attempt to use tasers, the chase continued into a parking lot, where a crescendo of bullets could be heard. Maillett said he has watched the video dozens of times and Walker’s actions at the time are difficult to discern, but a still photo appears to show him “dropping to his waist,” another shows him addressing an officer and a third photo “captures an arm movement forward.”
After the shooting, the officers who fired the shots were kept separate from each other and watched, and arriving investigators led them individually through the scene, Miette said.
“Each officer, independently of each other, related that they felt Mr. Walker turn and wave away, taking a shooting position,” he said.
Mylett said an officer who shoots someone should be “willing to explain why he did what he did, should be able to articulate what specific threats he faced … and should be held accountable.” But he said he was not assessing their actions until they gave their statements and said the union president had told him they were all “fully cooperating” with the investigation.
Police said more than 60 wounds were found on the body, but more investigation will be needed to determine exactly how many rounds the eight officers fired and how many times Walker was hit. Officers rendered aid and one could be heard saying he still had a pulse, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, Maillett said.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost promised a “full, fair and expert investigation” and warned that “the body-worn camera footage is only one view of the whole picture – a full review must be done before any conclusions are drawn.”
The employees involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard practice in such cases.
One of the family’s attorneys, Bobby DiCello, said the police shooting occurred even after Walker was on the ground and that police handcuffed him before he tried to administer first aid.
“How it came to this with a chase is beyond me,” DiCello said, adding that Walker’s family does not know why he ran from police. Walker was grieving the recent death of his fiancée, but his family had no indication of concern beyond that, DiCello said.
“He was sad, but he was getting through it,” DiCello said. He said he did not know if the ring found near the gun belonged to Walker.
Walker’s family is calling for accountability, but also for peace.
“Anger is okay. Anger is understandable. Violence is not. Let’s protect the dignity of Jayland’s life as we peacefully demand justice for him,” Walker’s family said in a statement to CBS News.
The Akron NAACP plans to hold a “community peace rally” at Akron City Hall on Sunday in Walker’s memory.
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