Jayland Walker was shot more than 60 times on the night of his death, Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett told reporters Sunday.
Speaking at a news conference alongside Mayor Dan Horrigan, Mylett also releaseddisturbing body camera footagefrom the June 27 shooting showing a group of police officers chasing, then firing at Walker, 25, who died at the scene.
“I won’t mince words, the video you are about to watch is heartbreaking,” Mayor Horrigan said at thepress conferenceSunday, prefacing the body-cam footage.
Chief Mylett also addressed Walker’s family directly in an attempt to calm the tense atmosphere in Akron, which has witnessed multiple demonstrations since the death of Walker was announced.
Jayland Walker.Courtesy: Walker Family
“You’ve asked for peace in an environment that is ripe for aggression and violence,” Mylett said Sunday. “If Jayland reflects the character of this family, you’ve raised a good son, and again, my deepest condolences and sympathies.”
LeBron James, who was born and raised in Akron, also shared his support for the city on Twitter, Sunday. The Los Angeles Lakers player, 37,wrote: “I 🙏🏾 for my city today!”
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LeBron James and a Black Lives Matter protest.Phil Masturzo-USA TODAY NETWORK/Sipa USA ; Amy Sussman/FilmMagic
A chase then ensued and officers reported that a firearm was discharged from the suspect’s vehicle, the release added.
People protest in Akron after the release of body cam footage of Jayland Walker.MATTHEW HATCHER/AFP via Getty
Speaking to reporters Sunday, Chief Mylett also stated that the officers involved would now have to fully account for every second of their actions on the night in question.
“When an officer makes the most critical decision in his or her life as a police officer, it doesn’t matter where in the country this happens, when they make that most critical decision to point their firearm at another human being and pull the trigger, they’ve got to be ready to explain why they did what they did,” Mylett said.
“They need to be able to articulate what specific threats they were facing, and that goes for every round that goes down the barrel of their gun.”
DiCello added that after reviewing the footage, he found no evidence that Walker, who had no criminal record, did anything to the officers that would “put them in fear” and require them to shoot. He added that the parking lot Walker ran to was large and vacant with no place to hide. Although a gun was found in the car, Walker was not carrying it at the time he was shot.
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source: people.com
