Forensics found up to 60 gunshot wounds on the body of 25-year-old Jayland Walker, who was trying to flee unarmed after allegedly committing a traffic violation.
The dissemination of a video recorded by the Police itself showing the death of a young black man shot by eight officers has sparked outrage in the US. This new case of police violence occurred in Akron, Ohio, last Monday , when Jayland Walker, 25, tried to flee after allegedly committing a traffic violation. Forensics found up to 60 gunshot wounds on his body.
Police officials have been forced to release the images after several days of protests in the city. They were recorded by body cameras that agents are required to wear under US law.
At a press conference, local authorities reported that the agents stopped Walker, who tried to escape at the wheel, first, and, when he was cornered, he ran from the car. The agents, according to the official version, thought that he was armed, which was ruled out in the subsequent search. The young man was carrying a gun but did not remove it from the vehicle.
After the video was broadcast, the disturbances intensified and the mayor called for calm. Hundreds of people marched this Sunday towards the Akron city hall carrying banners with legends such as ‘Justice for Jayland’, on the fourth day of demonstrations that yesterday became tense when some people approached the police cordon. The demonstrators caused some disorder, with the burning of garbage containers and damage to heavy equipment of the police, who fired tear gas to repel the crowd.
For the president of the organization for the defense of civil rights (NAACP), Derrick Johnson, this death is a “murder”. “This black man was killed (…) for a possible traffic violation. This does not happen with the white population in the United States », he said.
The policemen involved in the events have been suspended from service pending the judicial investigation.
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