Jayland Walker was handcuffed when his body arrived at the medical examiner's office: autopsy report
Jayland Walker was handcuffed when his body arrived at the medical examiner's office: autopsy report
Jayland Walker was handcuffed behind his back when his body arrived at the coroner's office to be processed as part of the investigation into the officers who shot and killed him in Akron last week, according to a medical examiner's report that was reviewed by CNN.
The preliminary report by the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office contains several pages of thumbnail photos showing Walker dead and handcuffed at the scene and after his body arrived at the coroner's office.
The photos also contain evidence of lifesaving efforts, including what appear to be tourniquets and bandages attached to and lying around his body.
CNN was granted permission to review the report after making a formal request, but was not allowed to make copies of its contents per office policy.
A final autopsy report will be turned over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, which is investigating any criminal wrongdoing by the officers. The autopsy report will be part of what the state attorney general's office considers for presenting a case to a grand jury.
Walker was killed in the early morning hours of June 27 after he fled what police said was an attempted traffic stop, leading officers on an 18-minute car chase and then a brief foot chase. It ended after he quickly stopped and officers believed he was reaching toward his waist, and "felt that Mr. Walker had turned and was motioning and moving into a firing position," officials have said.
Eight officers fired dozens of bullets resulting in more than 60 gunshot wounds, officials have said.
CNN has reached out to the Akron Police Department for comment on its policy for handcuffing people who have died in officer custody.
Photos taken at the medical examiner's office hours after the shooting show Walker in the body bag and subsequently on the examining table. The photos show dozens of gunshot wounds from his ankle to his cheek on both sides of his body.
Photographs in the report also show items such as Walker's driver's license and a bloodied set of handcuffs.
What police say happened
City and police officials spoke at a news conference Sunday and released 13 police body camera videos of events leading up to Walker's shooting.
Walker was unarmed at the time he was killed, Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett told reporters. A gun was found in Walker's vehicle after the shooting, police said, and officers said Walker fired a gun from his vehicle during the car chase.
Narrated video released by police says that about 40 seconds after the start of the pursuit, "a sound consistent with a gunshot can be heard" in body camera footage, and the officers told dispatch that a gunshot had been fired from Walker's vehicle. Police also showed still images taken from traffic cameras that showed "a flash of light" -- perhaps a muzzle flash -- along the driver's side of the car.
"That changes the whole nature" of the incident, Mylett said, turning a "routine traffic stop" into a "public safety issue."
After several minutes, body camera video shows that Walker's vehicle slowed and he exited the vehicle and ran. Several police officers got out of their patrol cars and chased him, and officers deployed Tasers in an effort to stop him, police said, but were unsuccessful.
Moments later, when police said Walker stopped and turned toward the officers, they opened fire, killing him.
Eight officers were "directly involved" in the shooting, Mylett said Sunday, and all have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Walker family attorney on Tuesday said he was sickened after watching the bodycam footage. "It's devastating to see a young life taken in this rabid, crazy way," Bobby diCello told CNN.
"He was unarmed and I'm going to echo exactly what the (police) chief said: Each one of those bullets -- and there were over 90 of them -- have to be accounted for and have to be shown to be meaningfully shot."
Protests follow the shooting
There were protests over Walker's killing Sunday that started peacefully but turned violent after night fell, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said. He said there was "significant property damage done to downtown Akron" and police said they arrested around 50 people after protesters failed to disperse.
Walker's family had asked that any protests remain peaceful to honor his memory.
Robert Dejournett, a relative of Walker's and a local pastor, said the 25-year-old was a fun-loving young man full of jokes, who was adored by everyone.
"We're God-fearing folk who believe in God and we want to exemplify that even in this process," Dejournett told CNN, "we don't want any rioting or anything like that."
"Personally, I want to scream out and be mad," the pastor said, "but what is that gonna do?"
Horrigan instituted a nighttime curfew Monday and Tuesday for downtown Akron to avoid further violence. He plans to lift the curfew Wednesday morning.
"Citizens have a right to make their voices heard, and I fully support that," the mayor said in a statement on the city's website. "In an effort to support all those who are peacefully protesting, I plan to lift the curfew in our downtown footprint starting tomorrow. As always, public safety remains our top priority and I urge our community to report any instances or threats of violence or destruction so that a small group of agitators does not cause further damage to our city and small businesses."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Actor Anne Heche dies a week after car crash
Actor Anne Heche has died after suffering a brain injury following a car crash last week, according to her family. She was 53.

Author Salman Rushdie attacked on lecture stage in New York
Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by a man who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.
300,000 Canadians at 'severe' or 'moderate' risk of gambling problems
While problem gambling affects a minority of the Canadian population, more than 300,000 are at “severe” or “moderate risk” for gambling-related problems, according to a Statistics Canada study of gambling behaviour.
Cabinet heard of potential 'breakthrough' with 'Freedom Convoy' protesters before Emergencies Act was invoked: documents
The night before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act in response to the 'Freedom Convoy' protests, the prime minister’s national security adviser told him there was 'a potential for a breakthrough' in Ottawa, court documents show.
Judge suspends two articles of Quebec's Bill 96 regarding legal translations
A Quebec Superior Court judge has temporarily suspended two articles of the province's new language law, saying they could prevent some English-speaking organizations from accessing justice through the courts.
Hydro lines will take 'several days' to repair as Toronto investigates massive power outage
The City of Toronto is investigating a power outage that left a large swath of the downtown core including office buildings, a major mall and a university campus without electricity yesterday.
The August 'sturgeon moon' has passed over Earth: Here is what it looked like
Rising over beaches, buildings and statues, the last supermoon of the year created ample viewing and photo opportunities around the world Thursday night.
Trump home search: Judge deciding on unsealing the warrant
A federal judge was to decide as soon as Friday whether to grant the Department of Justice's request to unseal the warrant that authorized the FBI to search former U.S. President Donald Trump's Florida estate. Attorney General Merrick Garland declared there was 'substantial public interest in this matter,' and Trump backed the warrant's 'immediate' release.
Health Canada recalls Crescent brand sliced deli meats over Listeria concerns
Health Canada has recalled Crescent brand sliced pastrami and Tuscan turkey breast sold in Ontario over Listeria concerns.