Eight police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker in Ohio last year were reportedly cleared of all charges on Tuesday, according to an internal investigation from the Akron Police Department.
“In my opinion, the use of deadly force was in compliance with the policies of the City of Akron Police Department,” Chief Steve Mylett said in an executive summary of the investigation.
Police shot and killed Walker on June 27, 2022, after pursuing him in a car that had been involved in a crime the previous day. After refusing to stop, speeding through a residential neighborhood, and shooting at officers, Walker jumped out of the car in motion at a barricade and fled the scene on foot.
Although he did not have the gun with him as he ran, Mylett said the video showed Walker reaching for something at his waist and turning as he ran, prompting the police to fire. A state investigation later found Walker had fired a gun out of his car window while attempting to escape.
Police said they fired up to 60 bullets at Walker after he jumped out of the moving vehicle and shot at the officers. The Beacon Journal obtained an investigative worksheet from the medical examiner’s office, which reported officers shot Walker in the face, torso, and upper legs.
The report and video from the crime scene confirmed that Walker had a handgun in his silver Buick. The Akron Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement that traffic cameras had captured a muzzle flash from Walker’s car and that a shell casing had been found at the same location.
“I found that the facts and circumstances of this tragic shooting show that the officers had an objectively reasonable belief that Mr. Walker was armed and by his conduct presented an imminent risk of serious bodily injury or death to them and/or their fellow officers,” Mylett said.
The eight police officers were reportedly placed on administrative leave but later returned to regular duty, according to The Akron Beacon Journal.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted a criminal investigation into the shooting at the request of Mylett. The bureau reportedly presented its investigation to a special grand jury, which declined to indict the officers for any criminal offenses.
Akron city officials declined to comment further on the internal investigation, pointing to a pending federal lawsuit filed by Walker’s family. The family is suing the city for at least $45 million in damages — a million dollars per each bullet that struck Walker, the family reportedly stated.
According to local media, the lawsuit alleges excessive force, supervisory liability, and municipal liability and claims that Walker’s constitutional rights were violated.
In addition to seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, and costs, the lawsuit also seeks “equitable relief, including, without limitation, that defendant city of Akron be made to adopt an appropriate policy to prevent future instances of the type of misconduct.”
Bobby DiCello, the Walker family’s attorney, released the following statement about the department’s conclusion of the investigation, according to local media.
“Everyone should be encouraged to read what the Chief of Police wrote. He said Jayland’s shooting ‘was in compliance with the policies of the Akron Police Department.’ That says it all,” DiCello said. “While not unexpected, it is exactly this position that makes it critical for us to continue the lawsuit on behalf of Jayland Walker’s family. In fact, it is exactly because of this position, that we look forward to moving this case further through our justice system.“