Officials in Akron, Ohio are preparing for demonstrations and unrest Sunday, the day the city’s police department is scheduled to release bodycam footage of the killing of Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man who was shot dozens of times while fleeing after a car chase, the Akron Beacon reports.
A lawyer for Walker’s family said the man was hit by at least 60 bullets or bullet fragments after he leaped out of a car when he was being chased by police. Police said Walker fired a gun at them as the car chase progressed, but they will not say if Walker fired at officers when fleeing. Walker was shot in the face, abdomen, arms, and legs by Akron police officers after a short chase early Monday morning.
City officials have canceled a weekend barbeque festival but will continue to hold the scheduled fireworks for Independence Day on Monday.