AKRON, Ohio — More buildings in downtown Akron are locking their doors as the city awaits a grand jury decision to criminally charge eight police officers involved in the shooting death of Jayland Walker last year.
On Friday, the University of Akron closed both the Polsky Building and the College of Business until further notice. The university's classrooms are just steps from Akron's Justice Center and City Hall, guarded by fencing, barricades, and concrete barriers.
Later in the day, Akron Public Schools announced that classes will be open on Monday as the district returns from spring break. However, APS Interim Superintendent Mary Outley says there are contingency plans in place for any "disturbances" that may arise in the city as a result of the decision.
Earlier this week, the city of Akron suspended public access to both the Justice Center and City Hall as the grand jury reviews the investigation into Jayland Walker's death.
It has been five days since the grand jury began to review the Walker case. Law enforcement sources have told 3News that a decision will likely come early next week.
Although the city of Akron has deemed High Street in front of the Justice Center a "demonstration zone," protestors took to the streets in Highland Square on Friday afternoon.
The shooting of Jayland Walker happened in the overnight hours of June 27, 2022, amid a chase. Akron police say Walker had fired a shot at one point during the vehicle pursuit, but was unarmed at the time officers opened fire when the chase was continued on foot. A gun was later found in Walker's vehicle, according to police.
The Summit County Medical Examiner determined that there were 46 graze/entrance wounds to Walker's body. The toxicology screening was negative for drugs and alcohol. Roughly 90 shots were fired by the officers.
The probe into the shooting was done by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. It was completed late last month and then given to special prosecutors.
After the shooting, eight members of the Akron Police Department were placed on paid administrative leave. On October 11, the officers were brought back in "an administrative capacity" due to a shortage of officers in the department.
The personnel files of the officers, which were heavily redacted, were obtained by 3News after a public records request in July. Four of the eight officers have military backgrounds, while three have Bachelor's degrees. None of the eight officers had previously faced work-related discipline.
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