Authority in Akron, ohiohas released police body-camera video into the shooting death of Jayland Walker, a black motorist who was killed after running away from officers during a traffic stop on Monday.
The video, which shows police following a speedy police chase of Walker’s vehicle, ends with several officers surrounding the 25-year-old in a parking lot, attempting to Taser him and then setting him on fire. Walker was alleged to have pointed a pistol at police from his vehicle and tried to run away from officers before leaving the pistol in the driver’s seat.
The family’s lawyer says the video shows officers fired 90 times, but police investigators say they have not determined how many were fired. Akron’s medical examiner found about 60 wounds on Walker’s body.
Protesters have gathered for four consecutive days this week to demand police accountability. But as soon as the video was released, Akron law enforcement and political officials called for calm as they warned about its graphic nature.
“The video is heartbreaking, it’s hard to take,” said city mayor Daniel Horrigan.
“For a number of reasons, it’s hard to see,” said Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett. “At the request of Mr Walker’s family we have mutilated Mr Walker’s body” in the video.
Video from the scene also showed a gun in the front seat of Walker’s car, and Milet said that traffic camera footage – which was also released to the public – shot the gun out of the driver’s window of Walker’s car during the chase. Flash appeared to show. At times during the chase, 10 police cruisers chased the walker.
Mylett said eight officers were directly involved in the shooting and have been placed on administrative leave. The Ohio Criminal Investigation Bureau is reviewing the shooting at the request of Akron Police.
“I’m not going to pass judgment” until the investigation is complete, Mylett said.
The concern of Akron officials over Walker’s murder and the reaction to the release of the body-cam video is clear. The police chief thanked Walker’s family for appealing for calm in a situation he said was likely to cause “aggression and violence” between officers and protesters.
Horrigan had previously canceled City’s Rib, White and Blue Festival For the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
“Independence Day is a celebration and a time to gather with friends and family, the mayor said. “Unfortunately, I feel strongly that this is not the time for a city-led celebration.”
On Saturday, Walker family lawyer Bobby DiCello described what he saw in the body-cam video, saying it was “brutal” and how the gunshots of officers “looked like a whole brick of fireworks”.
“We are all prepared for the community’s response, and we have a message that the family does not need any more violence,” DiCello said. “They just want peace, dignity and justice for Jayland.”
According to reports, Walker was involved in a chase with law enforcement in less than 24 hours, before leading police to the high-speed chase.
Monday’s fatal confrontation began when officers tried to stop Walker for an equipment violation. Followed for four and a half minutes. When Walker stopped and ran, officers followed him on foot.
Seconds later, two officers initially used Tasers before the eight officers opened fire. Mylett later said that pictures of the incident showed Walker extending his hand further toward his waistband. Soon after, there is a barrage of bullets from the officers.
“The action of the suspect made the officers feel that he was a fatal threat to them,” police said. “In response to this threat, the officers released their firearms, killing the suspect.”
When medical examiners arrived at the scene, Walker was lying on his back in handcuffs. The report said Walker was shot in the face, abdomen and upper legs, with a weapon recovered from his vehicle.
Police said Akron police had previously claimed that Walker posed a “fatal danger” and was wearing a black ski mask as he exited the car.
During Sunday’s press conference, Mylett said the proposals were an attempt to revive Walker.
Disello had initially questioned police claims that Walker, an Amazon employee before becoming a driver for Doordarshan, had fired a gun while driving away from a traffic stop.
DiCello also emphasized how the video showed Walkers running with their backs to officers as they opened fire.
Television station WJW-TV said that a preliminary report from medical examiner’s office Walker was found to have sustained multiple bullet injuries to his head, torso and legs.
Ohio Congressman Schontel Brown, whose district includes Akron, said in a statement: “I am deeply concerned about the murder of a young black man at the hands of the police, especially as it happens so often in this country.”
Brown urged “the City of Akron and its Police Department to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that Mr Walker’s family and our community are fully informed and accountable”.
When they prepared for protests after body-cam videos were released, officials strategically positioned snow plows and other large trucks to serve as roadblocks.
It was the third fatal shooting by a police officer in Akron in the past six months. On Saturday, a crowd of more than 100 gathered outside the city courtyard and chanted: “No justice, no peace, prosecute the police.”
On Saturday, Pastor Roderick Pounds Sr., of the Second Baptist Church in Akron, said after watching the video before a public release that “protests are a way of crying”.
Pounds said the body-cam footage was “shocking” and showed Walker was in no danger when it was described as a “massacre.”