Jayland Walker was unarmed when 8 Ohio officers opened fired, killing him

Ohio police officials have released officer body-camera footage of Jayland Walker, who was killed after eight officers opened fired on him while he was unarmed and running away.

Jayland Walker suffered at least 60 shots when Akron, Ohio police fatally shot him during a pursuit.

Police said the shooting occurred after Walker fled as officers tried to initiate a traffic stop for traffic and equipment violations on Monday, June 27.

Photo Source: Akron Police body camera

After a car chase, Walker got out of his vehicle and a foot chase ensued, police said. Officers thought Walker was reaching towards his waist and they “felt that Mr. Walker had turned and was motioning and moving into a firing position,” Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett said.

Walker, however, was unarmed, Mylett confirmed Sunday.

According to reports, police fired about 90 shots at Walker and he sustained about 60 shots in his body.

A medical examiner who arrived on the scene found Walker lying handcuffed on his back, according to an examiner’s “worksheet” in the case, the Beacon Journal reported. He reportedly had wounds to his face, torso and upper leg.

A handgun, a loaded magazine and a wedding ring were found on the seat of the car. A casing consistent with the weapon was later found in the area where officers believed a shot had come from the vehicle.

Click here to view the video on YouTube. 

Police union believes Jayland Walker shooting was justified

In a statement released Sunday with reporters, the local police union said the officers thought there was an immediate threat of serious harm, and that it believes their actions and the number of shots will be found justified in line with their training and protocols. The union said the officers are cooperating with the investigation.

State Attorney General Dave Yost vowed a “complete, fair and expert investigation” by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and cautioned that “body-worn camera footage is just one view of the whole picture.”

Akron police are conducting a separate internal investigation about whether the officers violated department rules or policies.

The eight officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.

Outrage over fatal shooting

The shooting itself caused outrage from Walker’s family and the community. The newly released body camera video has raised more questions. And anger is festering as protests have erupted across the city over the weekend demanding accountability.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson issued a statement saying the officers involved should be held accountable. “This Black man was killed – struck more than 60 times by 90 fired bullets – for a possible traffic violation,” he said. Late Sunday, police in full riot gear fired a dozen tear gas canisters to disperse a handful of protesters outside the justice center, WKYC-TV reported.

“How it got to this with a pursuit is beyond me,” DiCello said.

He said Walker’s family doesn’t know why he fled from police. Walker was grieving the recent death of his fiancee, but his family had no indication of concern beyond that, and he wasn’t a criminal, DiCello said.

“They want to turn him into a masked monster with a gun,” DiCello said. “I ask you, as he’s running away, what is reasonable? To gun him down? No, that’s not reasonable.”