The chaotic events that led up to eight Akron police officers firing 94 shots at Jayland Walker in some ways mirrored the turmoil of Walker’s personal life in the weeks leading up to his death last June.
AKRON, Ohio— The chaotic events that led up to eight Akron police officers firing 94 shots at Jayland Walker in some ways mirrored the turmoil of Walker’s personal life in the weeks leading up to his death June 27.
Walker’s death launched Akron into the national conversation over police violence against Black residents.has repeatedly said Walker was a good person and that the officers did not need to shoot him. Walker was hurting, sure, but there was no indication that he was suicidal, they said. And despite the efforts of BCI investigators to explore that theory, Senior Assistant Attorney General Anthony Pierson said there was not enough evidence for him to conclusively say that Walker wanted the officers to shoot him.Walker grew up in Akron and lacked a criminal record. He worked for Amazon for a time but told relatives that he quit because the company did not treat its employees well.
Walker was devastated, friends and family members told investigators. Beasley’s sister, Loreal Redrick, said Walker collapsed against a wall at the hospital, wondering aloud how he’d be able to live without her, how he’d be able to breathe. He told his mother, Pamela, in one text message that he couldn’t relax and watch TV at the end of the night because it reminded him too much of Beasley.
On June 20, his home loan lender called him and canceled the loan agreement. It was based on Walker’s income he earned working for Amazon, and he no longer worked there, according to the report from Yost’s office. The officers drove back to the where they originally spotted the car to see if it would double back. When the Buick returned, the officers decided that it was suspicious and sought to stop it.
A video from the Ohio Department of Transportation showed what appeared to be a flash of light coming from Walker’s car around the same time. The pursuit continued until Walker began to slow down on Wilbeth Road, near a research facility for Bridgestone Americas. Two officers tried to use their Tasers on Walker as he continued to run away, but the devices didn’t work. The officers said Walker started to slow down, which allowed the group to get closer to him.
“I believed that he had fired a shot because I heard an extremely early gunshot, um, as he was turning around,” said the officer who was the passenger in the patrol car that began the chase.
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