“Protesting is a way to cry,” said Roderick Pounds, pastor of Akron Baptist Church during a prayer service Saturday after being allowed to view the video.
Cops killed Jayland Walker, one African American in Ohioshooting him dozens of times as he ran to get away after being pulled over for a traffic violation, his family’s lawyer said, citing body camera footage released today.
At statements In the Akron Beacon Journal, Bobby DiCello called the video “cruel” and added that Walker’s relatives are concerned that violent protests could break out.
This incident is the latest in a series of police killings of young African-Americans in the US.
“We are preparing for the community response and the one message we have is that the family does not need more violence.”DiCello pointed out.
Police in Akron, Ohio, said Walker, 25, shot the officers who were pursuing him and plan to release the dash cam footage after a news conference today. A few hours later a march is scheduled.
“Protest is a way to cry”Roderick Pounds, pastor of Akron Baptist Church, said during a prayer service Saturday after he was allowed to see the video.
Pounds declined to elaborate “the revealing video the world is about to see”, but called its content “shocking,” noting that it shows Walker was not a threat when he was shot by officers. The pastor even spoke of a “massacre”.
“It’s barbaric”, Pounds emphasized while speaking to local television station WEWS-TV. “You’ll see tomorrow.”
According to authorities, the incident began when officers attempted to pull Walker over for a traffic violation Monday morning. Walker attempted to flee, according to the Akron Police Department, which added that officers reported a gun fired from his car.
After several minutes, Walker got out of his vehicle and started running, while officers chased him on foot and shot him, saying he posed a “death threat,” police said in a statement Tuesday. Walker died at the scene.
DiCello and his team pointed out that they have seen no evidence that Walker fired the shots, and police video shows him running away with his back to officers when they shoot him.
“He runs when he’s shot, I think I counted more than 90 shots“DiCello emphasized. “Now, how many of those bullets hit him, according to our investigation now we have information that says 60 to 80 wounds.”.
It’s unclear how many bullets struck Walker because bullets cause trauma when they enter and exit the body, he explained.
WJW-TV reported that the medical examiner’s preliminary report says Walker suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his head, chest and legs and that a gun was found in a vehicle, though it did not specify which vehicle.
Pounds stated that Walker “He did not have a weapon when he was shot. This was in his car.”.
The police officers involved in the case were placed on administrative leave until the judicial investigation is completed.
Walker’s fiancee, as the Beacon Journal wrote, was killed in a car accident last month.
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