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Politicians, athletes, and organizations react to death of Jayland Walker following release of bodycam footage

In a joint press conference, Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett and Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan released the bodycam footage to the public from the deadly police shooting

AKRON, Ohio — Editor's note: The video in the player above is from a previous story that aired on 3News. 

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On Sunday, a joint press conference held by Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett released body camera footage from the deadly police shooting of 25-year-old Jayland Walker.

RELATED: UPDATES | Jayland Walker Akron police press conference scheduled for today; Akron NAACP to hold 'Peaceful Community March and Rally'

Following the release of the video, politicians, athletes and organizations across the country made statements about the shooting. 

RELATED: Akron officials release new details and bodycam footage from deadly police shooting of Jayland Walker

Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Peace Makers Alliance 

Black Elected Officials of Summit County 

"The Black Elected Officials of Summit County (BEOSC) continue to request peace for our entire city. The family of Jayland Walker has requested that the community respond by respecting Jayland’s life and we should honor their requests. Every person who is affected by Jayland’s death should have an opportunity to speak their mind, as is their First Amendment right, without fear of retaliation or harm.

 During these moments of heightened tension, we ask that the Mayor direct law enforcement to prioritize de-escalation tactics while considering crowd control and protest monitoring. Simply put, the response should be de-escalation, not militarization. 

This community needs a lot of things at this moment, but we do not need the National Guard. Such a move will only further escalate an already tense situation and foster additional mistrust in a system that far too many believe has failed them. We need decision-making that is thoughtful, considerate, and led with compassion in these defining moments. We need real solutions and real answers and we are committed to ensuring that we have a substantive policy and systemic change in the days and weeks ahead. But this doesn’t not happen without the support of the community who needs time to grieve and express their pain. 

The BEOSC demands Mayor Horrigan to utilize local resources, if additional support is needed. We do not need the National Guard."

Tim Ryan: U.S. Representative

Sherrod Brown: U.S. Senator for Ohio

“The death of Jayland Walker is a tragedy. The Walker family and the entire Akron community deserve a thorough and transparent investigation of why we are mourning yet another young, Black life cut short. This is every Black parent’s worst fear of what a traffic stop will turn into.”

Akron Fraternal Order of Police 

"The incident is a tragedy for our entire community, including the family of Jayland Walker, as well as all of the officers involved. Many officers work their entire career without discharging their weapon. A split-second decision to use lethal force is one that every police officer hopes he or she will never be forced to make." 

RELATED: Akron Fraternal Order of Police releases statement after body cam video of shooting death of Jayland Walker is released

Dave Yost: Ohio Attorney General 

LeBron James: Los Angeles Lakers Basketball Player 

Nina Turner: Former Ohio State Senator

Shontel Brown: U.S. Representative 

LeBron James Family Foundation 

Bernice King: Daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. 

This story will be updated with additional reactions throughout the day. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above previously aired on 3News on July 1, 2022, when 3News Investigates uncovered that Jayland Walker fled from officers the night before the fatal chase with Akron police. 

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