The protests continue; video posted on Sunday
An Ohio town was bracing for further protests on Saturday before video footage emerged over the weekend showing the fatal police shooting of a black motorist that rocked the city and outraged racial justice advocates.
Demonstrations are expected to continue over the weekend after three straight days of protests this week demanding police accountability after officers in Akron, Ohio shot and killed 25-year-old Jayland Walker on Monday while he was fleeing a minor traffic stop.
The Akron Police Department is expected to provide details of the shooting, including body camera footage, at a Sunday news conference alongside the city’s mayor. Footage will also be released at that time.
Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett told the Akron Beacon Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, that the department will release all body camera footage of the shooting rather than the three videos required by law. . He added that the footage will be shown to Walker’s family before it is made public.
This is the third fatal shooting by a police officer in six months in the city. The city of Akron has asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to take over the investigation into the shooting.
“PEOPLE DESERVE SAFETY, NOT FEAR”:Protests continue after Jayland Walker is killed by police
Lawyer describes filming footage
Bobby DiCello, an attorney representing Walker’s family, shared details of the video ahead of its release, saying he hopes it helps the community prepare for what it will show.
DiCello told the Beacon Journal he was concerned about how people might react to footage he said showed police firing dozens of shots, shooting Walker in the face, abdomen, arms and legs as he tried to flee.
DiCello said the shooting was an “incredible scene” that left Walker’s body “just riddled with bullets.”
“It’s going to be a brutal video. It’s going to stir up passion. It’s going to make people uncomfortable,” DiCello said.
VIDEO SEQUENCES:Lawyer describes body camera footage
What the police say happened
The Akron Police Department said Walker refused to stop the vehicle and fled as officers attempted to arrest him early Monday morning. Walker then jumped out of his rolling vehicle and created a “deadly threat”, leading officers to use stun guns and then firearms, police said.
Police say Walker shot officers during the police chase.
Mylett did not provide additional details on how many officers fired shots or how many shots were fired.
PREVIOUS REPORTS:What we know about the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker by Akron police
Traffic camera footage obtained by the Beacon Journal shows 10 cruisers following Walker at one point during the chase.
Walker died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office, which ruled the death a homicide.
Walker was found lying on his back in handcuffs when a medical examiner arrived on the scene, according to an investigation worksheet for the case presented to The Beacon Journal at the medical examiner’s office. Walked had been shot in the face, abdomen and upper legs, the report said, adding that a weapon was recovered from his vehicle.
Who was Jayland Walker?
Walker’s family described Walker as a loving person who dreamed of starting his own delivery business. He worked at an Amazon fulfillment center and as a delivery driver for DoorDash, the family said at a Thursday news conference where they held police accountable for Walker’s death.
Walker was a standout wrestler at Buchtel High School, family members said.
THE FAMILY TALKS:Jayland Walker’s family hold police to account
Black elected officials speak out
Black elected officials in Summit County have asked the US Department of Justice to investigate Walker’s death. The organization’s president, Veronica Sims, has also called for police reform and training on implicit bias.
“We are extremely exhausted as black men and women continue to be slaughtered by those sworn to protect and serve,” said Sims, who is also the District 5 representative on Summit County Council. , in a press release.
Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.
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