AKRON, Ohio — Jayland Walker was shot and killed by Akron police officers following a foot and car chase one year ago today. 

What You Need To Know

  • A 25-year-old Black man named Jayland Walker was shot and killed by Akron police last year following a car and foot chase 

  • Walker’s death sparked nationwide outrage and months of protests in Akron

  • On the anniversary of Walker’s death, dozens of activists are expected to march in the nation’s capital to call for an investigation into the city of Akron 

A state investigation concluded that Walker fired a gun during the chase but was unarmed when eight officers fired 94 rounds at him, gaining national attention and sparking months of civil unrest and protests in Akron. 

“I’ve seen community come together in a way I have not seen it before," Akron NAACP President Judi Hill said. "I feel an outrage that others are feeling, not just in the African American community but throughout the Akron community. People are saying regardless, whatever happened to a grand jury decision, that it doesn’t make sense for an individual to be shot that many times. It doesn’t.” 

Hill, along with other leaders and activists in the community, have been calling for police reform following Walker’s death. She helped lead the initiative to get Issue 10 passed, a citizen-led police oversight board, that now meets every Wednesday. 

“Issue 10 was the one little ray of hope that we had in regards to creating change,” Hill said. “Yet, we know there is more change that needs to happen, that needs to occur.” 

This is why Hill and other activists are taking their message to the nation's capital on the one-year anniversary of Walker’s death. 

They are hosting a rally at the U.S. Department of Justice to call for an investigation into the city of Akron. 

A special grand jury in Summit County declined to indict the officers on criminal charges in April. 

“We want to literally take our demands to them, our request to please do a pattern and practice investigation on the city of Akron,” Hill said. “We think our police department isn’t listening, we don’t think they really get it.” 

The Akron police department said they are currently reviewing their police chase policy, and it is subject to possible changes that could come sometime this summer. 

“This is a community that loves the city, and so we are going to hold everyone accountable, the police chief, the mayor, everyone accountable,” she said. “We’ve said it to them, and we are saying it again, don’t just give us we are going to watch for the actions that are going to make the difference.” 

Throughout the next several days, activists will be hosting what they call a week of action in Akron, with vigils, marches and other events planned.