Jayland Walker was shot 46 times by police in Akron, Ohio last month after opening fire on officers during a car chase, according to preliminary autopsy results released Friday.
The 25-year-old black man was hit by 41 bullets and lacerated by five others during the June 27 standoff. Twenty-six bullets were recovered from his body, officials said.
Previous findings indicated he had 60 bullet wounds, but officials said it was “highly possible” multiple injuries were caused by the same bullet.
Walker suffered “several very devastating injuries that would have caused death,” said Dr. Lisa Kohler, the Summit County medical examiner.
It’s unclear how many shots were fired by eight officers — seven of whom are white. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid leave pending the results of the state investigation.
Akron police released footage of the shooting of Walker shortly after his death. Reuters
The violent episode began when police tried to stop Walker for traffic and equipment violations. The suspect refused to pull over and led officers on a four-minute high-speed chase and fired at them, police said.
Walker then jumped out of the still-moving car wearing a ski mask, was struck and met with a hail of gunfire as he ran across a parking lot. He was not carrying a gun when he was shot. An autopsy also found that he was sober at the time of his death.
Police said he made a threatening gesture before shots were fired, and union leaders said the shooting was justified because the cops feared for their lives.
After Walker’s death, protests broke out across the country. AFP via Getty Images
The alleged gesture was not clearly visible on blurry body camera footage, and protesters and advocates have argued that police shot Walker in the back as he ran, which is impossible to determine from autopsy results, Kohler said.
Walker’s family attorney, Ken Abarno, said the new findings show he “came to a brutal, senseless death.”
Another attorney said Walker was grieving the recent death of his fiancee and acting out of character. An unloaded handgun, ammunition and a wedding ring were found in the front seat of his car.
Police in the nearby town of New Franklin had tried to pull Walker over a day earlier for a broken tail light, but stopped chasing him when he entered neighboring Akron.
He had no criminal record.
With AP cables
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