Akron Police Department Completes Investigation into Shooting Death of Jayland Walker
The Akron Police Department announced on Tuesday that it has concluded its internal investigation into the shooting death of Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man, in June 2022. The department found that the eight officers involved in the incident had complied with department policies.
The review, conducted by Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett, comes more than seven months after a special grand jury determined that the officers' use of deadly force was legally justified and did not warrant criminal charges.
Walker, a resident of Akron, Ohio, was pulled over for minor equipment and traffic violations in the early hours of June 27, 2022. After fleeing from the police, he fired a shot from his car. A week later, body camera footage was released showing Walker being shot multiple times.
During the investigation, a handgun, a loaded magazine, and a wedding ring were found on the driver's seat of Walker's car.
Chief Mylett ordered the internal investigation following the completion of the grand jury review.
The Use of Deadly Force by Police Officers Deemed Justified in Recent Shooting
A recent shooting incident involving police officers has raised questions about the use of deadly force. The officers' actions are being scrutinized to determine if they were in accordance with department policies.
According to Police Chief Mylett, the officers involved in the incident followed the department's policies and their use of force was deemed objectively reasonable. The decision of the grand jury was based on this assessment.
The situation escalated when the suspect, identified as Walker, fired at the officers from his vehicle. This turned a routine traffic stop into a significant public safety and officer safety issue. Chief Mylett described the situation as "very fluid and very dangerous."
Chief Mylett highlighted several factors that led the officers to believe Walker was still armed and intended to harm them. These factors included Walker wearing a ski mask on a warm night, refusing to show his hands, and reaching into his waistband before assuming a shooting posture. In response, the officers fired to protect themselves.
The body camera footage released after the incident was blurry and did not clearly capture the threatening gesture that authorities claim Walker made. However, Chief Mylett stated that the use of deadly force is justified when an officer is at imminent risk of serious bodily harm or death. He concluded that while the shooting was tragic, it was objectively reasonable.
Police Shooting of Walker Sparks Controversy
The controversial police shooting of Walker has garnered significant attention from activists in the weeks following the incident. Various organizations, including the NAACP and Walker's family attorney, have called on the Justice Department to initiate a civil rights investigation.
Following the grand jury's decision to acquit the officers of criminal charges in April, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost emphasized that it is important to remember that Walker had fired at the police and "shot first," according to the AP.
The county medical examiner's report revealed that Walker was shot at least 40 times. The autopsy also confirmed that no illegal drugs or alcohol were present in his body.
Initially placed on leave, the eight officers involved in the shooting have since returned to administrative duties after 3 1/2 months.
