The family of Jayland Walker, a Black man shot 94 times by Akron, Ohio police during a 2022 traffic stop, has reached a settlement with the city in a wrongful death lawsuit filed over a year ago. Details of the settlement remain under wraps, but family attorneys are expected to address the public soon, while Akron city officials have opted to stay silent until the finalization of all legalities.
Walker’s tragic death stirred widespread outrage after it was revealed that Akron police fired nearly 100 rounds within seconds during a pursuit. In the moments leading up to the shooting, Walker, 25, had reportedly fired a single shot from his car before attempting to flee on foot, leaving his weapon behind in the vehicle. Police claimed they perceived him as an immediate “deadly threat” when he refused to surrender.
The family’s lawsuit, filed in June 2023, demanded $45 million and accused the Akron Police Department of excessive force and a “culture of violence and racism.” Notably, a grand jury declined to indict any of the officers involved, and the department has continued to withhold their names.
This case comes amid a larger national conversation on police practices and deadly force. Just last month, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) released new guidelines calling for departments nationwide to revamp their policies around the use of force. Citing over a thousand deaths across a decade tied to law enforcement restraint methods, PERF’s recent report urges significant changes—from strengthening de-escalation tactics to ensuring that officers work more closely with medical responders. Their approach follows ongoing tragedies, including the killing of George Floyd, that spotlight the urgent need for reform.
Walker’s case is a stark reminder of these systemic issues, resonating in calls for change in Akron and beyond. As Jayland’s family now finds some form of closure, the pressing question remains: how will communities and police departments nationwide respond to prevent similar tragedies?
