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Seeking Justice: Jayland Walker’s Family Files $45M Lawsuit Against Akron Police Officers and City Officials

Photo of Rebecca Davis O’Brien Rebecca Davis O’Brien
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Image credits: NBC News

The family of Jayland Walker has filed a $45 million federal lawsuit against the City of Akron, Ohio, and eight police officers who were involved in the deadly shooting that led to Jayland’s death on June 27, 2022. The lawsuit alleges that the officers used excessive force in their encounter with Jayland, a 25-year-old Black man, who was unarmed at the time of the incident.

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The legal filing also claims that local officials have fostered a “culture of violence and racism” in the Akron Police Department, according to the Walker family’s attorneys. Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan and Chief of Police Stephen Mylett are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

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The police killing of Jayland Walker last summer sparked weeks of protests in Akron, leading to clashes between police and demonstrators and damage to several businesses downtown. Despite the outrage, a special grand jury recently decided not to indict the officers.

The lawsuit filed by Jada Walker, Jayland’s sister and the administrator of his estate, seeks at least $45 million in damages — which the family said is $1 million for each bullet that struck Jayland. An autopsy found that Jayland had at least 46 entrance wounds. A gun was recovered in Jayland’s car after the shooting.

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“A year has passed since Jayland Walker was violently ripped away from his family and still they have not been able to achieve justice and accountability,” Bobby DiCello, the family’s Cleveland attorney, said in a press release. “We will use the judicial system to ensure that Jayland Walker and his family get the justice they deserve.”

The city has refused to publicly release the names of the officers involved in Walker’s shooting. The Beacon Journal is suing over this issue, with a lawsuit pending before the Ohio Supreme Court.

This tragic incident has raised concerns about police brutality and racism in law enforcement. Jayland’s death is one of many that have sparked nationwide protests and calls for police reform.

The grand jury’s decision not to indict the officers was criticized by some residents and activists, who say the decision failed to hold officers accountable. Judi Hill, president of the Akron chapter of the NAACP, previously said: “I’m tired of the fact that not even in Akron, Ohio, can we get justice when 90 bullets — it’s not enough? I’m having a hard time sitting next to a family that’s struggling. Because I feel their pain because we all feel their pain and we can’t get justice.”

In conclusion, the Walker family’s lawsuit against the City of Akron and the police officers involved in Jayland’s death is a critical step towards seeking justice and accountability. It is crucial to continue to hold law enforcement accountable for their actions and to push for reforms that will prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future.

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Photo of Rebecca Davis O’Brien Rebecca Davis O’Brien
1,010 2 minutes read
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