Police killed Jayland Walker, a Black man in Ohio, by capturing him dozens of occasions as he ran from officers, a lawyer for his household mentioned, citing a evaluation of police video footage because of be made public on Sunday.
In feedback revealed on Saturday by the Akron Beacon Journal, lawyer Bobby DiCello described the video as “brutal,” and mentioned Walker’s family anxious protests this weekend might flip violent.
The capturing was the newest in a string of killings of Black males by police within the United States that critics say are unjustified, together with the 2020 homicide of George Floyd in Minneapolis which ignited world protests in opposition to police brutality.
“We’re all bracing for the community’s response and the one message that we have is the family does not need any more violence,” DiCello mentioned.
Akron police have mentioned Walker fired a gun at officers who have been pursuing him. They plan to launch their physique digicam footage following a news convention on Sunday, hours earlier than a protest march is scheduled.
Officials have mentioned the incident started when officers tried to cease Walker for a site visitors violation whereas he was driving early Monday morning. Walker fled, in accordance with the Akron Police Department, which mentioned officers reported a gun being fired from the suspect car.
After a number of minutes Walker exited his car and ran, whereas officers chased him on foot and fired at him, saying he introduced a “deadly threat,” the police division mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday.
Walker, 25, was pronounced useless within the parking zone the place he fell. Police representatives didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Saturday.
DiCello mentioned his workforce has not seen any proof Walker fired a gun and that police physique digicam footage confirmed him operating together with his again to officers after they fired.
“He is just in a down sprint when he is dropped by I think the count is more than 90 shots,” DiCello advised the Akron Beacon Journal. “Now how many of those land, according to our investigation right now, we’re getting details that suggest 60 to 80 wounds.”
It was not clear what number of bullets struck Walker as a result of bullets could cause wounds each getting into and exiting the physique, DiCello mentioned.
The officers concerned within the capturing have been positioned on administrative go away throughout an investigation, in accordance with the division’s assertion.