Days after a black man was killed by police officers who reportedly fired nearly 100 bullets during a pursuit that began as a traffic stop, officials in Akron, Ohio, announced that the Fourth of July celebration had been canceled in response to a fatal shooting that rocked that city. the week. Police tried to pull over Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old DoorDash driver, for a traffic violation early Monday, authorities said. The Akron Police Department said that during the chase, Walker fired a gun from outside the vehicle — a claim that Walker’s family has denied. As he continued to drive away from police, Walker jumped out of his vehicle and was chased by officers on foot, according to authorities. It’s unclear why Walker fled from police because he had no criminal record, Bobby DiCello, one of the family’s attorneys, told the Washington Post. “The suspect’s actions led officers to believe that he posed a deadly threat to them,” police said in a news release. “In response to this threat, officers discharged their firearms, striking the suspect.” Walker was pronounced dead in the parking lot where he was shot. Autopsy records show eight officers fired more than 90 rounds at Walker, with more than 60 striking his body, DiCello told The Post. The account was confirmed by WKYC, which first reported the number of shots fired. “There are wounds all over his sides and all over his body,” DiCello said. Eight officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the completion of an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, according to Akron police. Details on the number of police shootings have not been released by authorities. The officers have not yet been publicly identified. According to police, a gun was found inside Walker’s car. DiCello said there was no evidence that the gun was in the car or that the firearm was turned over to an officer. The killing has sparked protests and calls for accountability from Walker’s family and residents angry over the third fatal police shooting in the northeast Ohio city since late December. Akron police announced Friday that body camera video of the shooting will be released Sunday afternoon. The backlash led Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan (D), who called the killing a “black day for our city,” to announce that the city’s Fourth of July celebration had been canceled. The Rib, White, & Blue Festival was scheduled to begin Friday in downtown Akron and conclude on Independence Day Monday. The section of downtown where the festival would take place will have no activities or entertainment over the holiday weekend, according to the city. “I fully understand that some residents and guests will be disappointed by the decision to cancel the festival this bank holiday weekend. Independence Day is meant to be a celebration and a time to gather with friends and family,” Horrigan said in a press release Thursday. “Unfortunately, I feel strongly that this is not the time for a city-led celebration.” The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to The Post that Walker’s death has been ruled a homicide. Walker died from multiple gunshot wounds to his face, abdomen and upper legs, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Denice DiNapoli, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner, told The Post that the homicide classification “refers to the medical term that indicates death at the hands of another and is not a legal conclusion.” “As with any investigation, the goal of the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office is to be able to provide an accurate assessment of the injuries sustained by Mr. Walker,” DiNapoli said. The autopsy report is expected to be released next week. More than 1,040 people have been shot and killed by police in the past year, according to data tracked by The Post. Although half of those people were White, Black Americans are disproportionately shot. They make up less than 13 percent of the US population, but are killed by police at more than twice the rate of whites. Hispanics are also killed by police at a disproportionate rate. 1,042 people were shot and killed by police last year Authorities said the incident began around 12:30 a.m. Monday. When Walker got out of the moving car during a pursuit that lasted several minutes, he ended up in the parking lot of the Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology, police said. After Walker was shot, police said, officers “immediately called EMS as they began administering first aid until paramedics arrived.” Once the state’s investigation is complete, the case will be turned over to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for further review before being presented to a Summit County grand jury for evaluation, police said. Protesters gathered outside the Akron Police Department office Thursday and blocked traffic demanding “Justice for Jayland.” DiCello told The Post that the family urged protesters to be peaceful over the holiday weekend, including by releasing the body camera footage on Sunday. “We are very concerned that this video will cause Akron to burn, and we don’t want that. Nobody wants that,” the lawyer said. “It’s all about peace, dignity and justice for Jayland.” His family said Walker was a sweet person who never caused any trouble. Relatives have expressed their grief in press conferences and interviews with local media, saying they are “angry” and “sickened” over a killing they say should not have happened. His mother, Pamela Walker, was left with one question to WKYC: “Why?” “Why did this happen in such a way, so terrible, terrible?” asked.
