The autopsy of Jayland Walker, the Black man who was fatally shot by police in Akron, Ohio, on June 27, revealed that the victim was struck at least 46 times during his encounter with law enforcement.
Walker was originally pulled over by police for a traffic violation before fleeing his car and law enforcement entering a pursuit. Officers then said that Walker fired at them from his car before pulling over and continuing on foot.
Jayland Walker Autopsy
The eight Akron police officers who opened fire on Walker said that they perceived a threat from the victim. All of the law enforcement personnel are currently on administrative leave following the incident.
In a statement, Dr. Lisa Kohler said that an autopsy of Walker's body made by the Summit County Medical Examiner's office revealed that the victim had 46 bullet wounds. On Sunday, Akron police released bodycam footage that showed officers fatally shooting the 25-year-old, who was unarmed, after a vehicle and foot pursuit.
Chief Steve Mylett added that officers attempted to stop the victim's car for unspecified traffic and equipment violations. However, he noted that less than a minute into pursuit, the sound of a shot was heard from the car and a transportation department camera captured what appeared to be a muzzle flash coming from Walker's vehicle, as per Fox News.
Mylett said that the gunshot changed the nature of the case from "a routine traffic stop to now a public safety issue." The victim was unarmed at the time of the shooting, but a shot appeared to have come from the vehicle during the pursuit. Officers said they feared Walker was preparing to shoot when they discharged their weapons.
Police later found a handgun, a loaded magazine, and a wedding ring on the seat of Walker's car along with a casing consistent with the weapon. Mylett added that he watched the bodycam footage dozens of times and noted that the victim's actions at the time were difficult to distinguish.
According to the Associated Press, Kohler added that the autopsy revealed Walker did not have illegal drugs or alcohol. The deceased was remembered at his funeral on Wednesday as a shy, kind, thoughtful man with a quiet sense of humor.
Police's Use of Force
A lawyer for the victim's family previously said that Walker had been grieving the recent death of his fiancee but that his family had no indication of concern beyond that. On Friday, a message seeking comment on the autopsy findings was sent to a spokesperson for the police department.
The autopsy report comes a day after the NAACP made a direct plea to Attorney General Merrick Garland for the Justice Department to open a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting death of Walker.
Details of the incident continue to emerge amid public scrutiny of how law enforcement personnel across the United States use force, especially against people of color. Seven of the eight officers who shot at Walker were white while the last was Black. All of the officers were placed on leave as per department policy, CNN reported.
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