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The tragic killing of Jayland Walker has led to a community outraged with the local police department. Officers involved in the shooting have been placed on leave, pending an investigation.
In Akron, Ohio on June 27th police fired upwards of more than 90 rounds at Walker, an action that many in the community have taken as excessive.
Now, the community mourns the senseless loss of life.
Police say they pulled Walker over for a traffic stop for equipment violations. Walker fled the stop, leading to a car and later foot chase.
Police argue that Walker had fired at them during the car chase. A gun was later recovered from his vehicle.
After the chase proceeded on foot, officers tried to use their tasers on Walker. When those failed, according to officers, Walker turned and looked to be ready to attack.
In the videos, dozens of gunshots are heard as eight police officers unload their weapons into the young man’s body.
It’s a truly horrific scene.
\u201cJayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man who was killed by officers in Akron, Ohio, suffered more than 60 gunshot wounds but was unarmed, the police chief said. Police released footage that showed officers\u2019 actions but deepened questions around his death. https://t.co/S8bdppq48D\u201d— The New York Times (@The New York Times) 1656887053
\u201cThis is Jayland Walker. He was murdered in Akon, Ohio by 8 police officers (7 white) in one of the most horrific ways possible! Shot at 90 times getting hit with 60 bullets! His body totally mutilated. Police officers then cuffed his dead body #JaylandWalker\u201d— Daddy Fat Sacks (@Daddy Fat Sacks) 1656628246
\u201cJayland Walker was shot at over 90 times, hit more than 60 from his head to his knees, then his mangled body was handcuffed. \n\nPraying right now for his family and for Akron. There must be accountability, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act must finally become law.\u201d— Charles Booker (@Charles Booker) 1656873749
\u201cKeep circling back to the phone call Jayland Walker's mother got: Imagine being told your child had been shot at least 60 times--that "he had 60 to 80 wounds." Sit with that thought for a moment. There is no justification in the world for this. Everyone should be in the streets.\u201d— Victoria Brownworth (@Victoria Brownworth) 1656959567
\u201cLast night, after it was confirmed that Akron cops fired 60 bullets into Jayland Walker, murdering him, people protested. And the cops responded with riot gear and tear gas. This sick routine of killing people, then attacking anyone who protests is disturbingly normal here.\u201d— Read Wobblies and Zapatistas (@Read Wobblies and Zapatistas) 1656942237
The wounds are so bad, that the examiner is having difficulty determining which are entrance wounds, and which are exit wounds. However, it does seem like most of the 60 or so shots that hit Walker were to the front of his body.
At the center of this issue is the claim that Walker fired his own weapon at the officers during the car chase. According to the police, there was reason to fear for their lives.
But the public isn’t buying it. Walker doesn’t have a past criminal record, and the gun was recovered from the car, meaning he was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
The public doesn’t like the thought of police killing yet another unarmed black man.
\u201csome of the same people who cheered SCOTUS\u2019s ruling because the right to carry a gun\u2026 are now justifying shooting Jayland Walker 60 times because he may have been carrying a gun\u201d— josie duffy rice (@josie duffy rice) 1656896528
\u201cWait so the police shot him because they thought he was armed but wasn\u2019t? Shocker. But isn\u2019t this what y\u2019all wanted? Everyone to have guns? Seems like you only want white people to have guns, and an excuse to kill poc on the streets like animals. #SCOTUSDestroyingAmerica\u201d— farmboi (@farmboi) 1656960951
\u201cFor anyone saying but Jayland Walker had a gun\n1.Its his 2nd amendment right...\n2. It was found in his car, not on his person.\n3. No one, should be shot 60 times for a traffic stop. NO ONE.\n4.Cops shoot because they are scared little bitches. #JaylandWalker\u201d— Melzy62 (@Melzy62) 1656682090
Police say they applied aid at the scene, but Walker was shot so many times, it didn’t help. Instead, they placed his dead body in handcuffs.
Walker’s death has been ruled a homicide and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is looking into the actions of the eight officers.
Over the weekend, bodycam footage of the incident was released. The public decided to protest in Walker’s name, which led to a violent respond from police.
During a protest on Sunday, police deployed tear gas and arrested about 50 people.
The reaction and the specific incident with Walker has been compared unfavorably to the way police have responded to other suspected criminals.
In Highland Park, Illnois, Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III was recently apprehended by police in connection with a mass shooting.
Walker’s protesters were amazed how easily police seemed to take custody of one violent criminal, but used such excessive violence on the other.
Enough to make you think.
\u201cThe last 24 hours they said Cops had no choice but to shoot an unarmed Jayland Walker 60X & kill him b/c \u201che fled\u201d\n\nNow Cops calmly arrested a heavily armed Bobby Crimo as he fled after killing 6 people & injuring 24 more\n\nA system cannot fail those it was never meant to protect.\u201d— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@Qasim Rashid, Esq.) 1656979774
\u201cJayland Walker deserved this treatment, too.\u201d— Nina Turner (@Nina Turner) 1656979486
\u201cRobert "Bobby" E. Crimo III taken in Alive. Don\u2019t tell me we don\u2019t have a problem with race in this country. #JaylandWalker killed no one and got shot 60 times.\u201d— Far From Scripted Podcast (@Far From Scripted Podcast) 1656980591
\u201cPer usual, a white man murders multiple people in a mass shooting and is taken alive. But Jayland Walker, a Black man, is running away from police unarmed and shot 60 times.\u201d— Frederick Joseph (@Frederick Joseph) 1656979474
\u201cAkron police shot unarmed Jayland Walker over 60 times. The response to hold them accountable? More repression.\u201d— DSA \ud83c\udf39 (@DSA \ud83c\udf39) 1656979580
The protests and police riot response has led to a curfew in place in Akron, Ohio. This caused the fireworks display to be canceled for the Fourth of July.
In time, we’ll keep an eye on the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s report.