At a news conference on Sunday, Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett admitted the footage was “shocking” and “difficult to watch.”
Milett said officers tried to stop the car Jayland Walker was in at 12:30 p.m. Monday (3:30 p.m. in Lisbon) for a traffic violation, and when he failed to stop, a car chase ensued.
During the chase, Walker reportedly once shot at police, a claim denied by the young man’s family.
Shortly thereafter, Walker got out of the car and began his escape on foot as agents chased and fired at him, deeming him a “death threat,” according to a statement released Tuesday by Akron police.
Walker, 25, was later pronounced dead in the parking lot where he fled.
Police fired more than 90 bullets at Walker, according to local media.
“They hit him 60 times,” Black Lives Matter denounced on Twitter.
Protesters have gathered since Wednesday in front of City Hall and a police station in Akron, known as the hometown of basketball star LeBron James.
Walker family lawyer Bobby Dicello called for peaceful demonstrations.
Some of the videos released by the police at the press conference were taken from cameras in police uniforms.
The eight police officers involved in the death have been administratively suspended pending a judicial investigation.
The city council on Thursday decided to cancel the annual festival, scheduled for the long weekend of the American national holiday, which is celebrated today, as it felt that “now is not the time for festivities.”
