On Sunday (July 3), officials from the Akron Police Department released the shocking body cam video in the brutal fatal shooting of a 25-year-old unnarmed Black man, Jayland Walker.
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Jayland Walker Fatally Shot By Eight Akron Police Officers, 60-90 Bullets Wounded Him
As we previously shared last week, Walker was killed by 8 Ohio officers on June 27.
The incident occurred after police officers tried to pull Walker over for a traffic violation. A police chase ensued and additional patrol vehicles were alerted and involved.
At some point in the chase, Walker fearfully jumped out from his moving silver Buick sedan and began running away on foot. It’s reported that the officers attempted to use their stun guns, but failed.
As the eight officers caught up to him, yelling for him to surrender, they excessively pumped his body with about 60 gunshots, with 20-30 more shots aimed in his direction.
Police then proceeded to handcuff Walker as he bled from his face, abdomen and upper legs.
The eight officers have since been placed on administrative leave as the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducts an investigation at the request of Akron police.
Since the murder, Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett said it appeared that Walker reached toward his waist during the foot chase and briefly turned toward officers, causing them to fear for their lives and open fire.
Chief Mylett also claims that after the officers unloaded their weapons into Walker’s body, they tried to administer care, but he died at the scene.
Speaking on the body cam footage of the murder, Chief Mylett said, “It was difficult to watch, and shocking. I’m not going to pass judgment [until the investigation is completed. But when an officer] makes the most critical decision in his or her life [to point a gun at someone, they must not only be ready to explain shooting, but to explain] for every round down the barrel of gun.”
Addressing the tragic murder of Walker, NAACP President Derrick Johnson said, “This wasn’t self-defense, it wasn’t an accident in the heat of the moment, it was murder. Point blank. This Black man was killed – struck more than 60 times by 90 fired bullets – for a possible traffic violation. This doesn’t happen to white people in America.”
Meanwhile, Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan pleaded with protestors to remain clam and patient while the investigation takes place. Horrigan also acknowledged the graphic nature of the video, claiming, “The video is heartbreaking, it’s hard to take in.”
As protests and outrage spark nationwide, Walker’s family calls for peaceful demonstrations — which Chief Mylett praised the family for requesting.
The Walker family’s attorney Bobby DiCello also commented on the video, calling it “brutal.” DiCello added, “It’s going to stir up some passion. It’s going to make people uneasy.”
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