Walker was unarmed at the time he was killed, Akron Police Chief Steven Maillett told reporters. A gun was found in Walker’s vehicle after the shooting, police said, and officers said Walker fired a gun from his vehicle during the chase.
Sunday’s protests began peacefully, but that changed after nightfall, Horrigan said in a statement, adding that there was “significant property damage to downtown Akron.”
Police said they arrested about 50 people after dozens of protesters failed to disperse from the city center.
Although the majority were peaceful, a group of “violent protesters” caused significant property damage to nearby businesses, restaurants and residential buildings, breaking windows and starting small fires, according to a news release from the Akron Police Department.
Police initially gave verbal instructions to the protesters, offering “a reasonable amount of time to comply,” according to the release, but later deployed a “chemical irritant to prevent further disturbances and property damage.”
Many questions about Walker’s death remain unanswered and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s investigation is ongoing, but here’s a breakdown of what we know so far.
What the police said happened
Walker was killed in a shooting early last Monday, following a vehicle and foot chase that began when officers tried to pull him over for traffic and equipment violations.
Walker fled the stop, according to a narrated video timeline released by police at Sunday’s press conference, and officers pursued him.
About 40 seconds into the chase, the narrated video says “a sound consistent with a gunshot can be heard” on the body camera footage and officers told the dispatcher that a shot was fired from Walker’s vehicle. Police also showed still images taken by traffic cameras that showed a “flash of light” — perhaps a muzzle flash — on the driver’s side of the car.
“It changes the whole nature” of the incident, Maillett said, turning a “routine traffic stop” into a “public safety issue.”
After several minutes, Walker’s vehicle slowed down and he exited the vehicle and fled, police said. Several police officers got out of their patrol cars and chased him, and officers used tasers in an attempt to stop him, police said, but were unsuccessful.
Moments later, police said, Walker “stopped and quickly turned toward the pursuing officers.” Maillett told reporters that officers believed Walker was reaching for his waist and they “felt Mr. Walker turn and wave and move into a shooting position,” Maillett said, and officers opened fire, killing him.
Walker was shot 60 times, the chief says
The medical examiner’s report found Walker suffered at least 60 wounds as a result of the shooting, Mylett said Sunday, although the medical examiner is still working to determine which were entry wounds and which were exit wounds. BCI will determine exactly how many times Walker was shot, Maillett said.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear how many rounds were fired, though Mylett said he expects “that number will be high” based on the videos, which show dozens of shots being fired over the course of seven seconds.
“A lot of rounds were fired,” Maillett said.
8 employees have been placed on leave
Eight officers were “directly involved” in the shooting, Maillett said, and all have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation, according to department records.
According to information released by the city, seven of the eight officers are white and one is black.
The officers are “cooperating fully” with the investigation, the Akron police union said in a statement, adding that the investigation will determine that the officers’ use of force was justified – including the number of rounds they fired.
“The decision to use deadly force, as well as the number of shots fired, was consistent with use-of-force protocols and officer training,” the Akron Lodge 7 Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement.
What the video shows
On Sunday, police released 13 videos from police body cameras — eight from the officers directly involved in the shooting and five others from officers who were at the scene.
The videos were released under a new city ordinance that requires videos documenting the use of force by an active police officer to be released within seven days of the incident.
Towards the end of the chase, some of the footage shows the silver car driven by Walker stopping before starting to exit the driver’s side of the vehicle.
At least one police officer yells, “Let me see your hands,” and tells him to stay still. The video shows Walker getting back into the car as it slowly moves forward. He was then seen exiting the side door and running from the officers.
At least one officer again yells at Walker to show his hands, one video shows. The chase lasted for several seconds before a series of shots rang out over seven seconds.
The videos end immediately after the shots were fired and do not show efforts by police officers to provide medical aid, although police say they attempted first aid after the shooting.
They were unsuccessful and Walker was pronounced dead at the scene.
Walker was full of life, a relative said
Walker’s family wants answers from police officials, their lawyers said at their own news conference Sunday, but they also asked that any protests in response to Walker’s killing remain peaceful to honor his memory.
Walker “has never broken the law a day in his life — no crimes,” said Bobby DiCello, one of the attorneys.
Robert Dejournette, a relative of Walker’s and a local pastor, said the 25-year-old was a fun-loving young man full of jokes who was adored by all.
“We are God-fearing people who believe in God and we want to set an example of that even in this trial,” Dejournette told CNN, “we don’t want any mess or anything like that.”
“Personally, I want to scream and rage,” the pastor said, “but what’s that going to do?”
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