The Ohio police officers who were involved in the fatal shooting incident of Jayland Walker on June 27 have “bounties” placed on their heads, according to officials.
During a joint news conference last week, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan noted the primary reason officers’ names are not being released stems from a long-standing policy not to identify those involved in fatal shootings.
Steve Mylett, chief of the Akron Police Department, further clarified another reason was due to death threats being made against officers, which also prompted the chief to instruct officers to remove their name tags as a precaution.
Walker, 25, refused to stop during a traffic stop and instead fled from authorities, prompting a pursuit. Just briefly into the chase, he fired a gunshot from his car, authorities said.
Less than 24 hours before the police chase in Akron, authorities in neighboring New Franklin Township had attempted to stop a car matching Walker’s for the same equipment violation reasons. The chase was called off by a supervisor when the car crossed the township’s border with Akron.
Since police released body camera footage of the incident, Akron has been subjected to daily anti-police protests that have turned violent. A state of emergency was declared by Horrigan earlier this month as he also announced a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., which will be active until further notice.
Meanwhile, Mylett said they obtained information from the FBI that “violent extremists” are entering the city to pose as demonstrators in order to perpetuate violence, which mirrors behavior that was observed during protests in Minneapolis in 2020–21, when people came from outside the city to stir violence during Black Lives Matter and anti-police protests.
The eight officers directly involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave while the state investigates the incident. Seven of those officers are white, and one is black.
Investigators recovered an unloaded handgun, an ammunition clip, and what appeared to be a wedding band on the front driver’s seat of Walker’s car, authorities said, adding that he was unarmed at the time he was shot.
During last week’s briefing, Mylett labeled the information that is being spread to the public claiming the officers involved are back on duty as false.
“When you put out misinformation, that actually tends to increase the level of tension. Misinformation doesn’t help the situation at all,” the chief said, also noting that misinformation in relation to the names of the officers involved in the shooting is being spread as well.
