Sandy MaloneAkron, OH – The city of Akron is preparing for riots as police prepare to release bodycam video of Monday morning’s fatal officer-involved shooting of 25-year-old Jayland Walker.
The incident began at about 12:30 a.m. on June 27 after police tried to stop Walker for a motor vehicle violation in the North Hill neighborhood, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
Police said Walker fled onto Route 8 southbound and fired a gun at officers from his moving vehicle.
Walker got onto Interstate 77 and then exited into the Firestone Park neighborhood with officers still in pursuit, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
That was when the suspect jumped out of his car while it was still moving and fled on foot.
Officers chased walker into the parking lot of the Bridgestone Americas campus off East Wilbeth, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
Officials said police deployed Tasers at Walker but they proved ineffective, WKYC reported.
“Actions by the suspect caused the officers to perceive he posed a deadly threat to them,” police said. “In response to this threat, officers discharged their firearms, striking the suspect.”
Walker was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene, NBC News reported.
He suffered gunshot wounds to his face, abdomen, arms, and legs, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
The preliminary medical examiner’s report said a gun was recovered inside Walker’s vehicle, but police have not yet said whether the suspect had a gun on him when he was shot.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office has promised to release the completed autopsy report next week, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
Akron police placed eight officers on paid administrative leave while the officer-involved shooting is investigated, but officials have not yet said how many officers fired their weapons.
His name is Jayland Walker.
8 Akron Ohio cops fired 90 bullets at him, hitting him 60 times throughout hie entire body.
The cops pulled him over for a TRAFFIC VIOLATION.He was 25.
He was a @doordash driver.
HE WAS UNARMED.
HE WAS MURDERED.#JaylandWalker pic.twitter.com/CLqQtgx1ZQ
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) June 30, 2022
Social media rumors quickly spread that claimed Walker had been shot 60 times and officers had fired more than 90 rounds, but no official sources have confirmed that information.
They shot him 60 times.
They shot him 60 times.
They shot him 60 times.
They shot him 60 times.
They shot him 60 times.
He was murdered by Akron police.
Say his name. #JaylandWalker— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) July 1, 2022
Police managed to arrest a young white men armed with an AR15 and dripping with the blood of Black people he just murdered at a #Buffalo supermarket, yet pumped 90 bullets into a young Black men over a traffic violation in #Akron.
Sick of AmeriKKKa.#JaylandWalker
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) June 30, 2022
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett announced on July 1 that they would jointly host a press conference on Sunday to release details of the incident and video footage of the officer-involved shooting, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
Protests erupted in front of the Justice Center in downtown Akron earlier in the week but remained small in size.
PROTEST FOR JAYLAND WALKER 10AM IN FRONT OF THE AKRON POLICE DEPARTMENT ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/yzccxjq48e
— My’Aire Marketing 💕✨ (@Namaslay__) June 30, 2022
But on Friday morning, the city began preparing for an influx of protesters that were expected to begin arriving.
JUSTICE FIR JAYLAND WALKER! MURDERED BY THE @Akron_Police !
The family is holding a protest this morning at 10AM in front of the injustice center! Be there! ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/GrJOQCmWiT
— Serve The People Akron (@STPAkron) June 30, 2022
Overnight, the city began placing snow plows and other large trucks as street barriers throughout the city, NBC News reported.
With the potential of unrest in Akron, snow plows are being used as street barriers surrounding the area of the Akron Police Department. This in the wake of the shooting death of 25 year old Jayland Walker. I have details this morning on @wkyc pic.twitter.com/cnre5r8Vfm
— Austin Love (@AustinLoveTV) July 1, 2022
The mayor cancelled the city’s annual Fourth of July “Rib, White and Blue” festival in anticipation of unrest, but said the fireworks display would still go off.
Holly Matkin
