Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz83
A number of Akron Police officers have been placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting of Jayland Walker. An investigation is pending after a police pursuit ended in Jayland Walker’s shooting.
A report is saying Police officers from the Akron Police Department attempted to stop a person, later identified as Walker, for a traffic violation around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, but the driver refused to stop. This is according to a statement posted on Facebook by the agency.
WEWS reported that Walker died from multiple gunshot wounds to the face, abdomen, and upper legs.
The following is via CNN.
The Journal, which was allowed to review an investigative worksheet at the medical examiner’s office, said it “indicated that Walker was observed laying on his back and was in handcuffs when a medical examiner investigator arrived at the shooting scene.”
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office did not release the autopsy record to CNN but confirmed that Walker’s death “is ruled a homicide and is considered a ‘confidential law enforcement investigatory record.'”
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and police chief Steve Mylett released a joint statement on Wednesday regarding the incident, saying, “We know that no police officer ever wants to discharge their service weapon in the line of duty. And anytime they must, it’s a dark day for our city, for the families of those involved, as well as for the officers.”
“Tragically, we are once again faced with a young man, with his life before him, gone too soon,” the joint statement continued. “Every single life is precious, and the loss of any life is absolutely devastating to our entire community. Our prayers are with Jayland Walker’s loved ones, and we offer our sincere condolences to all those who knew him. Our thoughts are also with our Akron police officers and their families.”
Horrigan and Mylett also said in their statement that the police bodycam footage, along with more information on what happened, would be released “in the following days.”
The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation by the Akron Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, according to the police statement.
