'Devastating Injuries': Jayland Walker Shot Dozens Of Times

AKRON, OH — Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man who was shot and killed by police in Akron last month, was shot or grazed 46 times, the county's medical examiner said Friday.

Dr. Lisa Kohler, the Summit County medical examiner, released a preliminary autopsy report Friday, finding Walker's body suffered 41 entry wounds and five wounds from bullet grazings. Her office recovered 26 bullets from his body.

Walker “had several very devastating injuries that would cause death,” including injuries to his heart, lungs and arteries, Kohler said, according to The Associated Press. Her office couldn't say which bullet killed him, nor could it determine the number of shots fired.

Preliminary findings released earlier showed Walker’s body had more than 60 wounds. Greta Johnson, the county's communications director, said one bullet could have caused several entrance wounds.

Walker suffered five wounds to his back. Kohler said they couldn't determine whether those came as he ran away, or turned as he was being shot.

On June 27, police tried to stop Walker over minor equipment violations. A car and foot chase ensued, during which Walker was shot by police. At one point, police said he fired at least one shot from his car.

Video showed Walker got out of his moving vehicle wearing a ski mask. He then ran toward a parking lot. He wasn't armed when police shot him, but an unloaded handgun and ammunition clip were found on the front driver’s seat of Walker’s car, authorities said.

Walker's funeral was held Wednesday after two weeks of protests in downtown Akron that led officials to declare a curfew. Family and friends remembered him as a shy, kind, thoughtful man with a quiet sense of humor.

On July 1, a family attorney for Walker told the Beacon Journal in Akron he reviewed police body camera video and that law firm supported claims Walker was shot at least 60 times.

The NAACP has pleaded with Attorney General Merrick Garland to have the Justice Department open a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting death.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.