Police released video Sunday of what the mayor called “heartbreaking” of the pursuit and shooting of Jayland Walker, 25, while asking for peace and patience from the community as the state investigation into the shooting continues. Chief Steve Mylett said officers tried to stop Walker’s car for unspecified traffic and equipment violations, but less than a minute into the chase, a gunshot was heard from the car and a department of transportation camera captured what appeared to be a flash in the mouth coming from the VEHICLE. Mylett said that changed the nature of the case from “a routine traffic stop to now a public safety issue.” Police said a few minutes later the car slowed and Walker got out of the still-moving vehicle wearing a ski mask and fled on foot. A handgun, a loaded magazine and a wedding ring were found in the seat, and a holster consistent with the gun was later found at the scene where officers believed a shot had come from the vehicle. After an unsuccessful attempt to use stun devices, the foot chase continues into a parking lot, at which point a crescendo of bullets is heard. Mylett said he has seen the video dozens of times and Walker’s actions at the time are difficult to discern, but one still photo appears to show him “going down on his waist” and another appears to show him turning toward an officer and a third The image “captures a movement of his hand forward.” After the shooting, the officers who shot were kept separate from each other and watched, and arriving investigators took them to the scene individually, Myett said. “Each officer independently said they felt Mr. Walker had turned and was gesturing and moving into a shooting position,” he said. Mylett said an officer who shoots someone must be “prepared to explain why he did what he did, he must be able to articulate what specific threats he faced … and he must be held accountable.” But he said he was withholding judgment on their actions until they gave their statements and said the union president told him they were all “fully cooperating” with the investigation. Police said more than 60 wounds were found on the body, but more investigation will be needed to determine exactly how many rounds the eight officers fired and how many times Walker was hit. Officers rendered aid and one person could be heard saying he still had a pulse but was pronounced dead at the scene, Mylett said. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost promised a “full, fair and expert investigation” and warned that “body-worn camera hardware is only one view of the whole picture – a full review must be done before any conclusions are drawn.” The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard practice in such cases. One of the family’s attorneys, Bobby DiCello, said police shots were fired even while Walker was on the ground and that police handcuffed him before trying to give him first aid. “How he came to this with a pursuit is beyond me,” DiCello said, adding that Walker’s family does not know why he ran from police. Walker was grieving the recent death of his fiancee, but his family had no indication of concern beyond that, DiCello said. “He was sad, but he was getting over it,” DiCello said. He said he does not know if the ring found near the gun belonged to Walker. Walker’s family is asking for accountability, but also for peace. “Anger is okay. Anger is understandable. Violence is not. Let’s uphold the dignity of Jayland’s life as we peacefully demand justice for him,” Walker’s family said in a statement to CBS News. The Akron NAACP planned to hold a “community peace rally” at Akron city hall on Sunday in Walker’s memory.
