Akron, OH – Jayland Walker, a young man with a promising future, was brutally executed with over 60 taxpayer-funded bullets by police officers after fleeing a traffic stop for a minor violation. In a shocking turn of events, a grand jury has concluded that the officers were legally justified in their use of force against an unarmed man.
This decision is a travesty of justice and raises serious questions about the accountability of law enforcement officers.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s justification for the killing is nothing short of ludicrous. According to Yost, Walker “reached for his waistband in what several officers described as a cross-draw motion, planted his foot and turned toward the officers while raising his hand.”
Is this really enough to justify the firing squad-style execution of an unarmed man? It seems that the police officers were trigger-happy and acted recklessly in this case.
The police chief himself admitted that it was hard to determine what provoked the officers to fire their weapons, and yet the Fraternal Order of Police in Akron defended the shooting as being “consistent with the use of force protocols and officers’ training.”
This is outrageous!
How can anyone justify firing 60 rounds into an unarmed person? The police officers involved in this senseless killing must be held accountable for their actions.
Walker’s family is left with many questions about how and why this happened. Bobby DiCello, the lead attorney for the family, emphasized the need for accountability, saying, “Our job, by doing this press conference, is to remind the police department for the city of Akron that we are here for accountability.”
The family plans to file a civil suit, but this cannot bring Jayland back or undo the harm caused by the police officers’ actions.
The police claim that Walker fired a gun from his vehicle during the pursuit, but no weapon was seen. The chase escalated to 10 police cruisers hot on Walker’s tail, which begs the question: Why did the police officers feel the need to pursue him with such aggression?
When Walker stopped and attempted to flee on foot, he was chased down and “executed” by police officers. This is a clear case of excessive force, and those responsible must be held accountable.
It’s time for us to ask tough questions about our justice system and the role of law enforcement officers in our communities. We cannot sit back and allow these types of incidents to continue happening.
We must demand accountability and transparency from our law enforcement agencies. We must demand an end to excessive use of force and the unjust killing of unarmed civilians. Jayland Walker’s tragic death must not be in vain. It’s time for real change, and it’s time for it now!
