Ohio Police Department releases video of officers killing Jayland Walker

Graphic videos released Sunday show eight Ohio police officers firing the barrage of bullets that killed a black man fleeing a traffic stop in Akron – with the city’s mayor calling the footage “heartbreaking”.

Authorities have not said how many shots were fired at 25-year-old DoorDash driver Jayland Walker, but Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett conceded Sunday the number could be more than 90, with the man according to Cincinnati .com suffered at least 60 gunshot wounds.

The shooting came Monday after Walker allegedly refused to stop for officers who were trying to stop him for unspecified traffic and vehicle violations.

Police say Walker fired a shot from his car as he was being followed.

When Walker finally stopped his vehicle, he got out of the car wearing a ski mask and ran from police, footage shows.

Police said it appeared he was approaching officers who believed he was preparing to shoot them when police opened fire. Video shows a hail of bullets fired at Walker, who Mylett said was unarmed at the time.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan called the video “heartbreaking,” while a lawyer for Walker’s family said the man was on the ground as police continued to fire.

Mylett declined to say Sunday whether the shooting was justified, adding that when a police officer “makes the most critical decision in his or her life” and points a gun at someone and shoots, they “have to “for every shot in the Barrel of a “declare gun,” the Cincinnati outlet said.

A local coroner arrived at the scene and found Walker handcuffed on his back, according to an ME “worksheet” in the case, the Beacon Journal reported. Walker was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mylett said police later found a bullet casing that matched the gun Walker had, in the area where authorities believe he shot his gun while driving.

A gun was also found in the driver’s seat of Walker’s car, police said — along with a bullet clip and what appeared to be a gold wedding ring, the Cincinnati newspaper said, citing video. Walker’s fiancée died in an accident last month, the outlet said.

Police said during Sunday’s news conference, which was streamed by USA Today, that 40 seconds after the driver fled the attempted stop, a gunshot was heard on officers’ body cams. Officials reported a shot came from Walker’s car, police said.

Walker suffered more than 60 gunshot wounds, although it’s unclear how many bullets hit him when officers examined entry and exit wounds, Mylett said.

Officers previously tried to stop Walker with their stun guns but were unsuccessful, police said.

An attorney for the Walker family, Bobby DiCello, said Sunday after the footage was released that he was “very concerned” that police allegedly shot Walker at officers.

He argued there was no justification for this death. He urged peace during the protests.

“They want to turn him into a masked monster with a gun,” DiCello said. “I’m asking you while he’s running away, what’s reasonable? To shoot him down? No, that is not reasonable.”

All officials involved are on paid administrative leave.

Mylett said he was told by the head of the police union that officers are cooperating with the investigation being conducted by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Medically examined photos of Walker viewed by a reporter from the Akron Beacon Journal show he had wounds on his face, torso and thigh.

DiCello said the family isn’t sure why Walker fled from police. He noted that Walker was mourning the recent death of his fiancé.

“He was sad, but he got through it,” DiCello said.

With postal wires