CNN
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Jayland Walker Sheriff Stephen Mylett, Akron, said Sunday, citing the medical examiner’s report, Sheriff Stephen Mylett said at least 60 gunshot wounds when Akron, Ohio police officers, shot him dead in a chase last week.
City officials also broadcast police body-camera footage of the shooting for the first time on Sunday, nearly a week after the deadly shooting. The video raises questions about the shooting death of an unarmed black man that is being investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
Police said the shooting occurred after Walker, 25, fled as officers tried to begin stopping vehicles for traffic and equipment violations on Monday, June 27.
After a car chase, Walker got out of his car and a foot chase ensued, police said. Officers believe Walker was reaching toward his waist, and they “felt that Mr. Walker had turned and was gesturing and moving into firing position,” Mylett said.
However, Walker was unarmed, Mylett said Sunday.
Police said that during the pursuit of the vehicle, a gunshot was fired from Walker’s car.
In the narrated dashcam video, police say that about 40 seconds after Walker drove away from police, “a sound consistent with gunfire could be heard on the officers’ body cameras.” Police also said “a flash of light” could be seen on the driver’s side at the time of the sound.
“That changes the whole nature of stopping traffic,” Mylett said at Sunday’s press conference. “It has turned from a regular traffic stop, to now a public safety issue. And then the chase continued.”
Police said a loaded pistol and magazine were found in Walker’s car after the shooting, along with a gold ring.
The eight officers were “directly involved in the shooting,” Mylett said, and all have received paid administrative leave, according to department policy.
The BCI, which is investigating the deadly shooting, has yet to confirm the number of times Walker was shot, Mylett said, and it still doesn’t know how many rounds were fired.
“However, based on the video, I would expect that number to be high,” he said. “A lot of bullets were fired.”
Mylett said officers found a shell casing near the scene of the traffic stop attempt that “matched the gun Mr. Walker had in his vehicle. The BCI will determine if the cover is from the gun.”
He added that a traffic camera captured “what we believe is a flash of light from the muzzle coming from a car. Again the BCI will determine if this is the case. ”
Walker died of multiple gunshot wounds to the face, abdomen and upper leg, CNN’s WEWS reported, citing the findings of its media partner, the Akron Beacon Journal.
The journal, which was authorized to review investigative spreadsheets at the medical examiner’s office, said it “indicated that Walker was observed lying on his back and handcuffed when the medical examiner arrived at the crime scene. shoot.”
Robert Dejournett, a relative of Walker’s who is now a pastor at St. Ashworth Temple of God In Christ Church in Akron, told CNN’s Polo Sandoval that the family wanted Walker to be remembered as a cheerful and overflowing young man. full of life.
“We are God-fearing people who believe in God, and we want to prove it even in the process,” Dejournett said. “We don’t want any riots or anything like that.”
Dejournett said the family hopes the shooting will lead to systemic change.
“We want to take that and we want to use it for the sake of systemic change,” says Dejournett. “We want to be treated like human beings, you know, black men, young men, they’re scared when it comes to the police – it shouldn’t be,” he said.
Attorneys for Jayland Walker’s family held a press conference shortly after police released the footage and stressed that while the family wanted answers from police, they also wanted the public “for peace, give dignity and give justice a chance – for Jayland.”
Attorney Ken Abbarno said: “Every time I watch the video, it gets worse for me. “Every movement I see, every shot I hear, and every time I see Jayland, lying on the ground, becomes more and more horrible.”
Abbarno said the video is “not just “hard to watch”. It’s something that should never be seen. ”
Bobby DiCello, another attorney for the family, said Walker “never broke the law a single day in his life – no crime whatsoever.” DiCello said Walker’s behavior on Monday “would be indicative of some distress, some fear, something that he’s been through.”
The Akron Police union believes the officers involved in the shooting were justified for their actions, “including (with) the number of shots fired,” according to a statement released Sunday. of Akron Lodge Brothers Police Order No. 7.
“The decision to deploy lethal force as well as the number of shots fired was consistent with the use of force procedures and officer training,” the statement said.
The statement said each officer is “cooperating fully” with the independent investigation conducted by the BCI.
Prior to the release of the footage, Akron officials asked the community to be patient and allow the investigation to proceed while peacefully protesting if they wish to prove it.
Mayor Dan Horrigan said during a press conference before the premiere of the footage you’re about to see it’s heartbreaking and very difficult to take in.
The mayor acknowledges Akron residents’ right to protest. “But I hope the community can agree, that violence and destruction are not the answer,” he said, demanding that the protests remain peaceful.
“Please be patient, and let the attorney general do their job,” he said.
City leaders stressed that the footage was released under a new city ordinance that requires video recording the use of force by an active police officer to be released within seven days of incident happened.
Mylett said the city welcomes peaceful protests but is prepared if protests turn violent.
“We have developed an operational plan to manage and provide safe spaces in this city for people to protest,” Mylett said. “And in case it turns into a situation that’s no longer peaceful, we also have an operational plan for that, and I’m not going to discuss any details about that.”