Pictured is Ahron, Ohio police killing victim Jayland WalkerAKRON, Ohio-Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon in Akron, Ohio for Jayland Walker, the 25-year-old Black man from Akron whom eight Akron cops unceremoniously gunned down late last month with 94 bullets as he tried to get away from police.
Walker's home-going celebration, which drew hundreds to an Akron theater, included family members, community activists, Black elected officials and Civil Rights leaders from the NAACP in attendance, and it went forward with an open casket.
The day prior city officials deemed the day a day of citywide mourning for the police shooting victim.
Akron is a city some 30 miles south of Cleveland It has a population of some 200,000 people and is the hometown of NBA megastar and Los Angeles Laker LeBron James
Services began with musical performances and speeches, followed by a touching eulogy
“Jayland was a kind and gentle soul who loved to make others laugh,” said Pastor Marlon Walker. “A true family man, Jayland cheers the time he spent with his mother, sister and grandmother. He had a zeal for life and love, traveling with his beloved fiancee. He loved underground music and basketball. He was just beginning to live his life, saving money to become a successful entrepreneur with aspirations of starting a business.”
Speakers honored Walker’s life, and called for accountability for his death in the wake of nationwide protests, several arrests of protesters, and a citywide curfew, though on Wednesday there were no protests per the wishes of the family, including his sister Jada Walker, who told Good Morning America in a previous interview that the incident is "hard to just talk about."
Walker was gunned down by Akron police during a foot chase following a hot pursuit vehicle stop.Officers fired more than 90 bullets toward Walker. He was not carrying a weapon when killed, although a handgun was later located in his car, police said
Officers allege that Walker fired one or more shots during the preceding car chase with this handgun Police said they recovered a bullet casing from the location where a shot may have been fired, and that the casing is consistent with the type of firearm found in Walker's vehicle.
The NAACP, activists and Walker's family lawyer dispute the account by police and city officials and say he is a victim of racial profiling and excessive force like so many other Black men in America who have lost their lives to police violence.They say that the account by police of the shooting is a coverup and that Walker is no longer alive to give his side of the story. Police, they say, gunned him down because he ran from police , and he was Black.
According to the Akron Police Department, at about 12:30 a.m. on June 27, police in Akron attempted to stop Walker for an unspecified traffic violation. Walker did not stop and a chase ensued.According to the pursuing officers, gunfire came from the vehicle less than a minute into the chase. After several minutes, Walker exited the highway and the chase continued along city streets.
