Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett said it appears Jayland Walker reached for his waist during a foot chase with police and briefly turned to officers before they didn’t open fire on Monday morning.
At a press conference on Sunday, Mylett spoke in detail for the first time since the 25-year-old’s fatal shooting after he fled what began as a routine traffic stop.
Akron Police Video:Officers shot Jayland Walker at least 60 times: Lawyer describes body camera footage
The police released two videos during the press conference. The first has been re-told and edited to show key moments of what happened, including an image of a flash coming from the door of Walker’s Buick.
Mylett said that’s when the police response changed.
“This has gone from a routine traffic stop to now a public safety issue,” Mylett said after the video played.
The second video was the body camera from the real-time perspective of the officer who initiated the traffic stop until the burst of gunfire that killed Walker.
Walker was wearing a black ski mask over his face when he jumped out of his car, police said.
Jayland Walker:What we know about the fatal Akron police shooting
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan called the video “heartbreaking”.
Walker family lawyer criticizes city’s description of police shootings
The Walker family’s lead attorney, Bobby DiCello, was unhappy with how Akron officials presented the information at Sunday’s press conference.
“They want to turn him into a masked monster with a gun. And we knew that,” DiCello said.
But a court, he warned, will not allow that.
“I want you to know that when I go to court for this family, the judge will look at me and say, ‘You’re not allowed, lead attorney, to watch a shooting as a wheelchair quarterback. You’re not allowed to come back on set for the end of the story and give snapshots in time,” DiCello said.
Did Jayland Walker shoot the police?
Walker left a handgun, ammunition magazine and what appears to be a gold wedding ring in the driver’s seat, according to video released by the city.
Walker’s fiancée, Jaymeisha Beasley, died in an accident last month.
Walker was unarmed as he fled his car and ran from police, Mylett said.
A sound consistent with a gunshot can be heard in police body camera video of the start of the chase that was released on Sunday.
Mylett, who served as chief for 10 months, withheld judgment on whether the police shooting – which could have involved around 90 shots, most of them hitting Walker – was justified.
But he said when an officer “makes the most critical decision of his life” to point a gun at someone, he must not only be ready to explain the shot, but to explain “for every shot in the barrel of the weapon”.
Was Jayland Walker shot 60 times?
Police did not say on Sunday how many shots police fired or how many hit Watson, but Mylett said the number is likely consistent with what has already been reported – more than 90 shots fired by the police, about 60 of whom hit Walker.
For the first time in Akron Police Department history, a police-involved shooting has been turned over to investigators outside of the State Bureau of Investigation and Identification.
Akron police shoot:Unanswered questions await mayor and police chief following Jayland Walker shooting
Those investigators will determine how many shots were fired, Mylett said Sunday. The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office is tasked with determining how many times Walker was punched, he said.
“People want and deserve answers, and they will get them. BCI will conduct a full, fair and expert investigation,” Ohio Attorney General Yost said in a prepared statement Sunday. “Images from a body-worn camera are only a view of the whole picture – before drawing any conclusions, the full examination must take place.”
Last week, a reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal saw medical examiner photos of Walker showing he had been shot multiple times in the face, torso and upper legs. It was unclear, however, how many gunshot wounds there were and which were entry or exit wounds.
Akron FOP defends actions of officers in fatal shooting
The Fraternal Order of Police of Akron, the union that represents the officers, released a statement after the press conference saying it believed the investigation would determine the actions taken by the officers, as well as the number of beatings of fire fired, was justified.
Among other things, the published FOP pointed out that Akron officers knew Walker had fled from suburban police the morning before.
The Walker family and city leaders demand a peaceful response from the community
DiCello said Walker’s family agrees with city officials on one thing: peace.
Horrigan urged the community to be patient as state investigators continue their investigation, handing it over to the state attorney general’s office, which will consider whether the officers will face criminal charges.
Horrigan said he knows people will protest to air their grievances in public, but hopes the community will agree that any violence or destruction is wrong.
Over the next few days, Horrigan said, Akron will hear a constant message: “Peace in our city.”
Walker’s family echoed that sentiment through DiCello, saying, “The world is watching. Please be peaceful.”
Recent cover by Jayland Walker
July 3:Unanswered questions await mayor and police chief following Jayland Walker shooting
July 2nd :Akron NAACP will hold a march to coincide with the Sunday release of the Jayland Walker videos
July 2nd :National attention grows after Jayland Walker is shot dead by Akron police
July 2nd :Local officials flood social media after Jayland Walker was shot dead by Akron police
July, 1st:In Their Words: Summit County Black Elected Officials Speak Out About Akron Police Shooting
July, 1st:“People deserve security, not fear.” Protests continue after Jayland Walker is killed by police
June 30th :“We don’t treat animals that way.” Jayland Walker’s family hold police to account
Doug Livingston, editor of the Beacon Journal, contributed to this report.
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