A pursuit ensued and police said shots were fired at officers from the vehicle during the pursuit. After chasing the vehicle “for several minutes,” the department said the person slowed and fled the vehicle while it was moving, leading officers on a “foot pursuit” that ended in a parking lot. “The suspect’s actions led the officers to perceive that he posed a deadly threat to them. In response to this threat, the officers discharged their firearms, striking the suspect,” the police statement said. Walker died of multiple gunshot wounds to the face, abdomen and legs, CNN affiliate WEWS reported, citing findings from their media partner, the Akron Beacon Journal. The newspaper, which was allowed to review a worksheet at the medical examiner’s office, said it “indicated that Walker was observed lying on his back and was handcuffed when a medical examiner arrived at the scene of the shooting.” City officials on Sunday plan to release body camera footage in connection with the case, according to a statement from Mayor Dan Horrigan’s office. The plans will be viewed and reviewed Sunday afternoon and will be made available to the public after a press conference, city spokeswoman Stephanie Marsh said in an email to CNN. The city’s police chief also plans to meet with members of Walker’s family before the press conference to “give them an opportunity to review the video before the media and the public,” the city said. The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office did not release the autopsy file to CNN, but confirmed that Walker’s death is being “ruled a homicide and is considered a ‘confidential law enforcement investigation record.’ Horrigan and Police Chief Steve Mylett issued a joint statement Wednesday about the incident, saying, “We know that no police officer ever wants to fire their service weapon in the line of duty. And whenever they have to, it’s a dark day for the our city, for the families of those involved, as well as for the officers”. “Tragically, we are once again faced with a young man, with his life ahead of him, gone far too soon,” the joint statement continued. “Every life is precious and the loss of any life is absolutely devastating to our entire community. Our prayers are with Jayland Walker’s loved ones and we offer our sincere condolences to all who knew him. Our thoughts are also with our Akron police officers and their families”. Horrigan and Mylett also said in their statement that police body camera footage, along with more information about what happened, would be released “in the coming days.” The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the Akron Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, according to a police release. CNN’s Keith Allen contributed to this report.
