The lawyer for the
25-year-old’s family
called it an execution,
telling media members
that police fired 90 shots,
hitting the young man “60
to 80 times.”
By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior
National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
Authorities on Sunday
released disturbing
bodycam footage of
Jayland Walker, an
unarmed Black DoorDash
delivery driver with no
criminal record shot
dozens of times by Akron
Police Officers.
The lawyer for the
25-year-old’s family called
it an execution, telling
media members that
police fired 90 shots,
hitting the young man “60
to 80 times.”
As the video rolls,
several officers are seen
approaching Walker’s
vehicle with their guns
drawn.
Police Chief Stephen
Mylett claimed Walker
had a ski mask on,
reached toward his waist
during a foot chase, and
turned toward pursuing
police officers.
He claimed that’s when
officers opened fire.
Mylett said authorities
found a weapon in
Walker’s car, but it wasn’t
clear if he discharged the
gun.
He admitted that Walker
didn’t exit the car with a
gun.
While handcuffed
and bleeding profusely
from his wounds,
Mylett claimed officers
attempted to provide
lifesaving help for Walker.
Officials placed the
eight directly involved
in the shooting on
administrative leave.
“It was difficult to watch
and shocking,” Mylett
stated. “I’m not going to
pass judgment.:
The chief and Akron
Mayor Daniel Horrigan
commended Walker’s
family for calling for
peaceful demonstrations.
“The video is
heartbreaking, and it’s
hard to take in,” Horrigan
said.
The U.S. Attorney’s
Office, the Justice
Department’s Civil Rights
Division, and the FBI field
office in Akron issued
joint statements noting
that they were “closely
monitoring and reviewing
the circumstances.”
“The FBI continues to
coordinate with state and
local partners to provide
resources and specialized
skills,” officials wrote
in the statement.
“If the evidence
reveals potential
violations of federal criminal
statutes, the Justice Department
will take appropriate action.”
To quell tensions, Horrigan
announced the cancelation of
Akron’s Fourth of July Festival.
Walker’s family attorney Bobby
DiCello called for a federal
investigation.
“The
is brutal,” DiCello asserted.
“It’s going to stir up some
passion. It’s going to make people
uneasy.”
Former Democratic Ohio
Congresswoman Nina Turner told
her more than 534,000 Twitter
followers that the DOJ must
investigate.
“Jayland was unarmed and
running away when police opened
fire, firing 90 shots, hitting him 60,”
Turner wrote as she posted the
bodycam video. “The Department
of Justice needs to step in to
investigate immediately.”
Turner noted that officers were
reckless.
“The cop almost shot two other
cops,” she tweeted. “Just absolute
recklessness.”
Turner then compared the
incident to another Ohio shooting.
“This is like Cleveland all over
again, with the 137 shots fired
at Timothy Russell and Malissa
Williams,” Turner recalled.
“Jayland’s family is urging
protestors to remain peaceful.
Something has to change.”
In November 2012, more than 60
Cleveland Police officers pursued
a vehicle driven by Russell and
Williams, whom authorities claimed
had fired on them – it turned out
their car simply suffered a backfire.
The 23-mile chase ended when
officers surrounded the vehicle and
opened fire, killing the unarmed
African American couple in the
middle school parking lot.
A jury later acquitted two officers
charged with manslaughter.
Eventually, six Cleveland officers
were fired for their actions.
Walker’s family said they are
wary of their deceased loved one
becoming demonized.
“They want to make him a
masked monster,” DiCello stated.
“I’m glad the police chief made
one thing clear – he was unarmed.”