On June 27, 2022, 25-year-old Jayland Walker ran from the police. As the police chased him down and failed to tase him, police resorted to shooting him. As a result, he was shot over 40 times. The event has had mixed feelings about the matter.
It is claimed that Walker had shot at police while on a car chase with the police. However, a video showing the police chase indicates otherwise. In the video, an audible gunshot noise is heard, with one police saying, "21 shots fired, that vehicle just had a shot come out of its door." In addition, camera evidence showed a gunshot light coming out of the door around the same time as the gunshot.
He later slowed down and left his car, attempting to run away from the police. Initially, the police had tried to tase Walker, as seen in the video, but it appeared to have failed. Police shot at Walker, hitting him 46 times.
Union president Clay Cozart had made statements on the investigation of the police. "All of the officers are cooperating with the investigation fully," he said. The investigation is said to last several weeks. However, people protest as Cozart claims that the department has received death threats.
"Mr. Walker did not stop. He got to that entrance area of Route 8, and Mr. Walker turned on to that ramp, and the officers let him go because they did not want to pull him over for an equipment violation... It is near an area where a homicide occurred outside of a bar. So that rose their suspicion, why the car would return to the area. So they got behind it again and tried to stop him." - Clay Cozart clarifying the situation
Cozart added that Walker had refused to stop and shot at the police. As of now, the police who were part of the chase are on paid administrative leave.
Many mourn Jayland Walker's death, as at his funeral, he was described as shy, kind, and thoughtful with a quiet sense of humor. Many Black Lives Matter and Justice For Jayland shirts were passed around. Many of Walker's friends and family are visibly angered by his death, with his best friend, Dupri Whatley, saying, "I don't want anybody to try to make it seem like my best friend was a bad dude. Because he was not, if it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be where I'm at now."
We await the news of the investigation.
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