The family of Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man fatally shot by eight Akron police officers in 2022, has reached a $4.8 million settlement in a wrongful-death lawsuit with the city of Akron. Walker was killed during an attempted traffic stop that escalated into a chase. The family’s lawsuit, filed in June 2023, sought at least $45 million, alleging that officers used excessive force in the fatal shooting.
Walker’s death sparked protests in Akron and brought widespread criticism of the police department. The officers fired over 90 shots, hitting Walker more than 40 times. The Ohio attorney general’s office later confirmed that Walker had fired at least one shot from his vehicle during the chase, but he was unarmed when he fled on foot before being shot by officers.
Video footage from the incident showed a muzzle flash from Walker’s car, with a popping sound heard in the background. Officers reported gunfire coming from his vehicle. The pursuit lasted about seven minutes, and despite attempts to subdue Walker with stun guns, officers ultimately opened fire when he ran away.
In April 2023, a grand jury decided not to indict the officers involved, concluding that they were justified in their actions. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost remarked, “The question for the grand jury was not whether this was a horrible tragedy, as it clearly was,” but rather if the officers were justified in their response.
The case prompted the city to update its vehicle pursuit policies, and ongoing discussions between the Walker family and the community aim to bring further changes. However, the names of the officers were not released due to threats against them. The settlement was officially announced on Oct. 15, 2023, though both the city and the family declined to comment before its finalization.
Link: New York Times
留言