Jayland Walker Shot 46 Times, Examiner Says Amid Probe Into Police Shooting

Topline

Jayland Walker suffered 46 gunshot wounds in a police shooting in Akron, Ohio, last month, a medical examiner reported Friday, following nationwide protests and harrowing body camera footage released after the shooting.

An Ohio medical examiner revealed on Friday that Jayland Walker, the 25-year-old Black man shot by … [+] Akron police on June 27, was shot 46 times. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Key Facts

Walker suffered entrance and graze wounds when he was shot by Akron police on June 27, Summit County medical examiner Lisa Kohler told local media in a press conference Friday morning.

Walker, a 25-year-old Black man, died of blood loss from the gunshot wounds in an attempted traffic stop and vehicle chase by Akron police, sparking nationwide protests for racial justice and police accountability.

Kohler said Walker suffered 17 gunshot wounds to the pelvis and upper legs, 15 to the torso, eight to his arms, five to his lower legs and one to the face.

In a statement released on Facebook after the shooting, Akron Police Department said Walker “posed a deadly threat” to the officers on the scene, who initially believed he had fired at the police car — but was unarmed when he was shot.

Police said they immediately called EMS, which pronounced Walker dead on the scene.

Key Background

Walker, who attended Akron public schools, had no criminal record, the New York Times reported. He had been working as a driver for DoorDash before he was killed. Body camera footage released two weeks after the shooting showed officers firing dozens of rounds in Walker’s direction after initially trying to stop him with stun guns. Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett called the footage “shocking.” Celebrities, including Akron-native and NBA all-star LeBron James, also responded, tweeting “I pray for my city today.” Family attorney Bobby DiCello later said eight officers were involved in the shooting and that Walker had a gun in the car, but was not carrying it when police chased him on foot. His family held an open-casket funeral earlier this month, drawing comparisons to the funeral of 14-year-old Emmett Till 67 years ago, whose brutal murder at the hands of two white men – who were later acquitted – in Mississippi rallied support for the Civil Rights Movement.

Crucial Quote

“I’m going to say this to any police officer that wants to avoid accountability: It will not stand,” DiCello told Ohio public radio station WKSU days after the shooting.

Big Number

1,049. That’s how many people police fatally shot in the U.S. over the past year, according to a Washington Post database, which compiles news accounts, social media posts and police reports. Although white Americans account for half of the shooting victims, Black Americans – who make up 13% of the U.S. population – are killed at a disproportionately higher rate, roughly 40 per every million people. Approximately 28 Hispanic people are killed per million people, followed by while people (16) and people who classify as other (5), the data found.

Tangent

Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett authorized officers to remove their name tags while on duty, following threats to the department in the wake of the shooting.

What To Watch For

Although an unspecified number of Akron police officers were placed on leave earlier this month, it has not been disclosed whether the officers involved in the shooting will face charges. The Akron Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are both conducting investigations into the shooting, before the case heads to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for further review. Mylett said the department will release the names of the officers involved once investigations are over.