Photo: Getty Images
An autopsy report reveals that Jayland Walker was handcuffed behind his back when his body arrived at the coroner's office following a fatal encounter with Akron police officers.
CNN got access to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office's preliminary report, which reportedly has pages of photos showing Walker dead and handcuffed at the scene and even after his body was transported to the coroner's office for processing. Reporters also pointed out that there's evidence of officials trying to save the 25-year-old Black man's life in the images, including tourniquets and bandages.
Walker was killed on June 27 following a police chase that ended with eight officers opening fire on him. Reporters say the victim suffered over 60 gunshot wounds, with injuries spanning from his ankle all the way to his cheek.
According to the police department, the incident began when officers tried pulling over Walker's vehicle in the early hours of the morning. As officers pursued the 25-year-old, they allegedly heard sounds similar to gunshots coming from his car. Eventually, Walker abandoned his car in a grassy area and started running on foot, but police noted he quickly stopped and turned toward them while "moving into a firing position."
Police bodycam footage released Sunday (July 3) shows that Walker simply turned toward them before they started firing at the Black man. Even though officers didn't find any weapons on Walker's person after shooting him, they did discover a firearm inside his vehicle, according to authorities.
"It's devastating to see a young life taken in this rabid, crazy way," Bobby diCello, one of the attorneys representing Walker's family, told CNN. "He was unarmed and I'm going to echo exactly what the (police) chief said: Each one of those bullets -- and there were over 90 of them -- have to be accounted for and have to be shown to be meaningfully shot."
Walker's death sparked huge demonstrations across Akron, Ohio. Hundreds of people flocked to Akron City Hall on Sunday (July 3) chanting "Justice for Jayland" with Black Lives Matter signs in protest, but Mayor Dan Horrigan says things got violent as it crept into the evening hours. "Significant property damage" was reported in downtown Akron, and police say nearly 50 people were arrested for failure to disperse.
Robert Dejournett, a relative of Walker's and a local pastor, encouraged demonstrators to remain peaceful.
"We're God-fearing folk who believe in God and we want to exemplify that even in this process," Dejournett told reporters, "We don't want any rioting or anything like that."
CNN says the final autopsy report will be turned over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations as part of their investigation into the fatal shooting. The eight officers "directly involved" in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, according to officials.
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