AKRON, Ohio — One week after the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) wrapped up its investigation into the death of Jayland Walker, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan announced that a grand jury will be seated next week to hear evidence in the case.
The Akron Mayor made the announcement via his official Facebook page, along with information regarding the grand jury process.
The presentation of evidence to a grand jury marks the next step following the death of Walker on June 27, 2022, following a police pursuit that ended with eight officers firing roughly 90 rounds at the 25-year-old. The Summit County Medical Examiner determined there were 46 graze or entrance wounds on Walker's body, and the situation prompted controversy and outcry both in Akron and around the country.
The officers involved, who were placed on leave before being brought back on duty in an "administrative capacity," claimed Walker fired a gun out his car window as he fled. Investigators said they did find a weapon inside Walker's vehicle, but stated he was not armed when he was shot.
BCI quickly took over the inquiry, with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost pledging his team would conduct themselves in a "objective, professional, and independent" manner. This past January, Yost's office had said the investigation had already taken more than 1,100 hours.
Speaking to reporters last Wednesday before a community meeting at New Hope Baptist Church, Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett claimed he was unaware of BCI's current progress regarding the Walker case.
At the meeting, Mylett and other police leaders went into more detail about the grand jury process and how use-of-force investigations are conducted.
Mylett told community members that the BCI probe into the Walker shooting has gone quicker than he thought, adding that use-of-force investigations usually take about 14 months before evidence is presented to a grand jury. The Walker case is headed to the grand jury in less than a year.
"To be upfront and honest with you, I was expecting this to be longer because there were so many officers involved," Mylett told the gathering.
Akron police leaders say they have provided paperwork to help the BCI, but are in no way part of the investigation. They will get the results from the grand jury when the community does.
Meanwhile, downtown businesses are bracing for potential protests and a possible repeat of some of the damage we saw last summer. Ward 5 City Councilwoman Tara L. Mosley released a statement to Akron citizens earlier Wednesday, discouraging businesses from boarding up.
"Akronites want to trust that the grand jury will make the right decision. But that is only possible if we can trust the process," Mosley wrote. "Unfortunately, though, the process is being unfairly tainted by the decision to start boarding up windows throughout the city before the grand jury is even seated."
Some are disregarding Mosley's concerns, including Grismer's Christian Gifts store manager Robert Palumbo. The 89-year-old shop boarded up last year, too, and and are preparing now in order to protect the thousands of dollars worth of valuable inside, in case something happens.
"If everything pops off, are we just going to get steamrolled, or will the city actually take responsibility for their actions?" Palumbo asked. "[We'll] board up, keep our eyes open and make sure that we get everything out of here that we can, and if there's a problem, we'll just run."
Conversely, Peanut Shoppe of Akron owner Marjorie Klein says she thought about boarding up, but eventually decided against it, instead placing her trust in the city.
"I just decided that I wasn't going to do it and I'm just going to hope for the best," Klein told 3News. "I think the city is going to take care of us down here this time around. I think they learned a lot from the last time."
3News' Neil Fischer, Lydia Esparra and Tyler Carey contributed to this report.