
The eight police officers who participated in the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man from Ohio, during a summertime traffic stop have all resumed active duty. This follows the grand jury’s decision not to indict any of the officers involved.
This information was confirmed by Akron Police Capt. Michael Miller who gave assurance that the officers’ reinstatement followed an in-depth investigation carried out by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) of Ohio. Moreover, this decision comes after the conclusion of a grand jury that deemed no indictment necessary.
The department’s internal investigative procedures are reportedly nearing completion and undergoing final legal scrutiny. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the results are anticipated to be publicly disclosed by November’s end.
Taking a chronological account of the incident, Akron police initiated a pursuit following a traffic stop involving Walker, who was driving a 2005 Buick, on the 27th of June, 2022. According to police reports, the chase ensued after Walker failed to heed the police’s stop order citing traffic and equipment violations.
Footage from police body cameras showed that as the chase progressed, Walker allegedly fired a gunshot from his vehicle, just 40 seconds into the pursuit. Walker subsequently exited his car and undertook an attempted escape on foot. Efforts by the officers to subdue him with Tasers proved unsuccessful.
The Akron Police Chief, Steve Mylett, disclosed that Walker was fatally shot following his sudden turn towards the pursuing officers. A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr. Lisa Kohler, a Summit County medical examiner, revealed Walker sustained 46 gunshot wounds or grazings.
Simultaneously, Walker’s family raised concerns about the city’s handling of the case. Articulating their grievances through their attorney, Bobby DiCello, they expressed disappointment over being persistently overlooked by the City of Akron. In their statement, they highlighted the absence of communication from city leadership regarding the reinstatement of the officers involved.
The family’s quest for justice persists despite the non-indictment decision by the grand jury, which came through in April. They asserted the officers’ use of force against Walker was legally justifiable, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Against this backdrop, Walker’s family is now pressing legal charges against the city.
In their civil lawsuit lodged in June, they accuse the officers of employing excessive force which they attribute to a nationwide malaise of violence and institutional racism deeply rooted in the City of Akron’s Police Department.
In their litigation, the family petitioned for a hefty compensation of $45 million, representing a symbolic $1 million for each bullet that found its mark on Jayland Walker. Apart from the city, several members of the Akron Police Department are listed as defendants in the court filing.