After the release of the body-cam footage showing the events leading up to the fatal police shooting of Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black motorist, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Akron, the capital city of the state of Ohio in the United States, carrying placards that read “Black Lives Matter.”
Since the gunshot that resulted in a fatality took place a week ago, there have been demonstrations all throughout the city. However, the unrest on Sunday, which marked the fourth day after the video was made public, was the most severe since the video was made public.
The police made a plea for calm as a mob marched to City Hall holding banners with messages such as “Justice for Jayland” and “we are done dying.” The crowd’s march continued far into the evening, and the chants resonated throughout the streets.
Reports indicate that a number of protestors were responsible for blocking traffic in the West Akron neighbourhood in addition to the Highland Square neighbourhood.
The officials in the city with a population of 190,000 people put snowplows and other heavy equipment close to the police station so that it might act as a barrier against any possible disturbance.
On Sunday, two different movies were made available online: the first one was a composite of body-camera footage, body-camera still frames, and narration; the second video was the full body-cam footage of the whole pursuit and shooting.
The narrator detailed how Walker did not stop and instead continued driving away. According to AFP, the police engaged in a car pursuit after receiving information that a shot had been fired from inside Walker’s vehicle.
After being pursued for a number of minutes, Walker eventually abandoned his vehicle while it was still in motion and made his escape on foot. The officers used their tasers to attempt to restrain him, but he continued to run away from them.
Walker was ultimately cornered in a parking area after being pursued by many cops. An original police statement that was issued after the shooting indicates that he acted in a manner that lead officers to fear he presented a “deadly danger.” However, the body-cam video is too unclear to see clearly what happened.
The narrator detailed how Walker did not stop and instead continued driving away. According to AFP, the police engaged in a car pursuit after receiving information that a shot had been fired from inside Walker’s vehicle.
After being pursued for a number of minutes, Walker eventually abandoned his vehicle while it was still in motion and made his escape on foot. The officers used their tasers to attempt to restrain him, but he continued to run away from them.
Walker was ultimately cornered in a parking area after being pursued by many cops. An original police statement that was issued after the shooting indicates that he acted in a manner that lead officers to fear he presented a “deadly danger.” However, the body-cam video is too unclear to see clearly what happened.