Jayland Walker

Date: 6/27/2022          Location: Akron, OH             FACTORS (1,2,4,5,8,10,12,14,19)   

Name: Jayland Walker                                  

Criminal History/Involved: No, reports indicate Walker did not have a criminal record. / Yes, Walker was fleeing from police and shot at them.

Mental Illness: Walker’s fiancé had recently died and his family reported since then Walker was upset and “acting out of character.”

Substance Abuse History/Involved: None reported. / Unknown.

Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/25

Officer(s) involved: Eight Akron Police Officers                                                                 

What prompted the initial contact with police? At around 12:30 a.m. on June 27, 2022, Akron police officers observed traffic infractions by a vehicle operated by Jayland Walker so they activated their emergency lights for Walker to pull over his vehicle.

Actions taken by subject towards police: Instead of complying and stopping his vehicle, Walker drove away from the police at speeds up to 80 mph and while shooting at them with a handgun. Multiple police units joined in the chase and when they caught up to Walker, he slowed his vehicle down and took off running while wearing a ski mask. Officers attempted to stop Walker by shooting a Taser at him but it did not stop Walker. As Walker ran to a parking lot he turned around toward the officers and still frame photos from the officers’ bodycam video’s show Walker “going to his waist area” with his arm moving in “a forward motion.”

Reactions by the police: Fearing Walker was still armed with the gun he used to shoot at them during the car chase, and believing he was preparing to shoot them – the eight officers shot at Walker approximately 90 times, killing him with around 60 hits.

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is conducting a joint investigation with an independent office.

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Walker could still be alive if he: complied and pulled his vehicle over; did not shoot at the police with his handgun; remained in his vehicle instead of running from the police; put his hands up and got down on the ground instead of turning toward the officers, motioning as if he was accessing a hidden weapon.

Miscellaneous: Given Walker’s lack of criminal record and recent emotional strain, it is possible his furtive motions were an intentional effort to commit suicide by cop.

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, having just been shot at by Walker, the officers believed he was armed, and they reasonably feared for their lives when he stopped running from them and motioned toward his waist area as he turned to them making it appear as if he was going for a gun.