The family of Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man who was shot and killed by Akron police following a car and foot chase early Monday, is calling for accountability for the officers involved.
Police say that at some point during the car chase Walker shot at them. He was killed outside his vehicle following a foot chase in which police allege Walker made a threatening action. Multiple news outlets have reported Walker was shot close to 60 times based on the medical examiner's preliminary summary.
At a news conference Thursday, the Walker family's attorney, Bobby DiCello, said they won't rest until they get answers from police.
鈥淚'm going to say this to any police officer that wants to avoid accountability: It will not stand,鈥� DiCello said. 鈥淲e will get to the bottom of what occurred. We absolutely will. You can't take the 5th. You can't hide. You can't band together arm in arm and pretend that what just happened didn't happen or was all Jayland's fault.鈥�
DiCello said they expect to see police body camera video in the next 24 hours.
The Akron Beacon Journal is reporting that Walker鈥檚 death by the Summit County Medical Examiner鈥檚 office, and that the city of Akron has asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to take on the investigation.
Members of Walker's family described him as a kind, good person. Walker's sister, Tymeca Cohen, was among a group of people who gathered outside the Akron Police Department in downtown Akron in a protest Thursday demanding answers from police.
鈥淛ustice is going be served, and we're going to get justice for him,鈥� Cohen said, 鈥渂ecause what they did wasn't right.鈥�
Protesters said they doubt initial Akron police reports about Walker鈥檚 death. A woman who identified herself as a relative of Walker鈥檚 disputed officers鈥� claim that he fired at them.
鈥淭here was no gun,鈥� the relative said. 鈥淛ayland did not carry guns, and I'm going to say this every day. Jayland did not carry guns.鈥�
Following Thursday鈥檚 protest, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan announced the city鈥檚 Rib, White, & Blue Festival, originally scheduled for Friday through Monday, is canceled and that Lock 3 will have no activities over the holiday weekend.
鈥淚 completely understand that some residents and guests will be disappointed by the decision to cancel the festival this holiday weekend,鈥� Horrigan said in a news release.
鈥淚ndependence Day is meant to be a celebration and a time of gathering with friends and family. Unfortunately, I feel strongly that this is not the time for a city-led celebration.鈥�
