Jayland Walker was shot 46 times by police officers, autopsy report reveals

Jayland Walker, a Black man fatally shot while fleeing police in Akron, Ohio, last month, was struck 46 times by officer gunfire, according to a preliminary autopsy report out Friday.

Of those wounds and grazes, 17 were to Walker’s pelvis and upper legs, while another 15 hit his torso, causing internal injury to his heart, lungs, liver, spleen, left kidney, intestines and multiple ribs. He also suffered a fractured jaw caused by a gunshot to the face while another 13 bullets struck his knees, legs and arms.

Summit County medical examiner Lisa Kohler provided a detailed summary of the report into Walker’s death during a press conference on Friday, after her office finalized it the night before.

Jayland Walker

“Jayland Walker’s death was due to blood loss from his internal injuries. The cause of death ruling was multiple gunshot wounds,” Kohler said, adding that it was impossible for her office to determine which bullet was the one that killed him.

His manner of death has been ruled a homicide and the toxicology report showed no use of drugs or alcohol by Walker at the time.

Ken Abbarno, a lawyer representing Walker’s family, declared that the medical examiner’s findings confirm the fact that Walker “came to a brutal, senseless death.”

Akron police shot unarmed 25-year-old Jayland Walker dozens of times after he fled from a traffic stop and led officers on a car, then foot chase, according to body cam footage released by police. Walker was gunned down early Monday, June 27, 2022.

Authorities attempted to initiate a traffic stop with Walker on June 27, which ultimately triggered a brief chase. Police said Walker refused to stop and then fired off at least one round from inside his vehicle before eventually exiting his car and fleeing on foot. He was unarmed when eight different officers unleashed the hail of bullets.

An unloaded handgun, an ammunition clip and what appeared to be a wedding band were discovered on the driver’s seat of Walker’s car after the shooting, authorities said.

Attorney Bobby DiCello, right, holds up a photograph of Jayland Walker as attorney Paige White, left, comforts Jayland's mother Pamela Walker during a news conference at St. Ashworth Temple, Thursday, June 30, 2022, in Akron, Ohio. (Jeff Lange/)

Walker’s death sparked widespread backlash and the subsequent release of bodycam footage only further stoked tensions in Akron. A curfew triggered by protests remains in place for the city.

The officers involved have been placed on paid leave while the state carries out an investigation into the shooting. Seven of those officers are white, and one is Black.

With News Wire Services