Sunday’s protests began peacefully, but that changed after nightfall, Horrigan said in a statement, adding that “there was significant property damage in downtown Akron.” Police said they arrested about 50 people after dozens of protesters failed to disperse from the city center. While the majority were peaceful, a group of “violent protesters” caused significant property damage to nearby businesses, restaurants and residential structures, breaking windows and setting small fires, according to a news release from the Akron Police Department. Police initially provided verbal instructions to protesters, offering “a reasonable amount of time to comply,” according to the statement, but later deployed a “chemical irritant to prevent further disturbances and property damage.” Many questions about Walker’s death remain unanswered and the investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is ongoing, but here’s a breakdown of what we know so far.
What the police say happened
Walker was killed in a burst of gunfire early last Monday following a vehicle chase and foot chase that began when officers tried to pull him over for traffic and equipment violations. Walker fled the stop, according to a narrated video played by police at Sunday’s news conference, and officers gave chase. About 40 seconds after the chase began, the video narrates, “a sound consistent with a gunshot is heard” on the body camera footage, and officers told dispatch that a shot was fired from Walker’s vehicle. Police also showed still images taken from traffic cameras that showed “a flash of light” — perhaps a muzzle flash — along the driver’s side of the car. “This changes the whole nature” of the incident, Mylett said, turning a “routine traffic stop” into a “public safety issue.” After several minutes, Walker’s vehicle slowed and he got out of the vehicle and ran, police said. Several officers got out of their patrol cars and chased after him, and officers deployed Tasers in an attempt to stop him, police said, but were unsuccessful. Moments later, police said, Walker “stopped and quickly turned toward the pursuing officers.” Mylett told reporters that the officers believed Walker was reaching toward his waist and “felt that Mr. Walker had turned and was gesturing and moving into a firing position,” Mylett said, and the officers opened fire, killing him.
Walker was hit 60 times, chief says
A medical examiner’s report found that Walker suffered at least 60 wounds as a result of the shooting, Mylett said Sunday, although the medical examiner is still working to determine which were entry wounds and which were exit wounds. BCI will determine exactly how many times Walker was shot, Mylett said. Meanwhile, it remains unclear how many bullets were fired, though Mylett said he expects “that number to be high” based on the videos, which show dozens of gunshots over a seven-second period. “A lot of bullets were printed,” Mylett said.
8 officers on leave
Eight officers were “directly” involved in the shooting, Mylett said, and all have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation, according to department protocol. According to information released by the city, seven of the eight officers are white and one is black. Officers are “fully cooperating” with the investigation, the Akron Police Association said in a statement, adding that it believes the investigation will determine that the officers’ use of force was justified — including the number of rounds they fired. “The decision to deploy deadly force as well as the number of shots fired is consistent with use of force protocols and officer training,” Akron Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 said in a statement.
What does the video show?
Police on Sunday released 13 body camera videos — eight of the officers directly involved in the shooting and five of officers who were at the scene. The videos were released under a new city ordinance that requires video documenting the use of force by an active-duty police officer to be released within seven days of the incident. Towards the end of the chase, some of the footage shows the silver car Walker was driving coming to a stop before starting to exit the driver’s side of the vehicle. At least one officer yells “Let me see your hands” and tells him not to move. The video shows Walker getting back into the car, which is slowly moving forward. He is then seen exiting the passenger door and running from the officers. At least one officer again yells at Walker to show his hands, a video shows. The chase continued for several seconds before a series of shots rang out over a seven second period. The videos end immediately after the shooting and do not show the officers’ attempts to provide medical treatment, although police say they attempted first aid after the shooting. They were unsuccessful and Walker was pronounced dead at the scene.
Walker was full of life, a relative says
Walker’s family wants answers from police officials, their lawyers said at their own news conference Sunday, but also asked that any protests in response to Walker’s killing remain peaceful to honor his memory. Walker “had never broken the law a day in his life — no crime of any kind,” said Bobby DiCello, one of the attorneys. Robert Dejournett, a relative of Walker’s and a local pastor, said the 25-year-old was a fun-loving young man full of jokes, who was loved by all. “We are God-fearing people who believe in God and we want to exemplify that even in this process,” Dejournett told CNN, “we don’t want any riots or anything like that.” “Personally, I want to scream and be mad,” the pastor said, “but what’s he going to do?”
