The city of Akron, Ohio, observed a day of mourning Wednesday to coincide with the funeral for Jayland Walker, a Black man who was shot dozens of times by police officers after a traffic stop.
After the ceremony at the Akron Civic Center, an attorney representing Walker’s family said the United Nations would be investigating through a racial injustice and law enforcement task force.
“Jayland was a kind and gentle soul who loved to make others laugh,” pastor Marlon Walker said during the funeral. “A true family man, Jayland cheers the time he spent with his mother, sister and grandmother. He had a zeal for life and love, traveling with his beloved fiancee. He loved underground music and basketball. He was just beginning to live his life, saving money to become a successful entrepreneur with aspirations of starting a business.”
Friends and family eulogized Walker, 25, as warm and funny.
“He was a kind of a soft-spoken, fun, funny guy, and he was just always looking to make you smile,” Walker’s cousin Robin Elerick said. “And that’s one of the things we love most about him.”
Others connected his death to wider societal ills.
“One of the things that we cannot do, we must not do, is — we must not normalize this,” Bishop Timothy Clarke said. “We cannot make the deaths of our sons and daughters at such an early age the normal thing. … We should not be here and Jayland should not be in that box.”
Walker was killed June 27 after an alleged “traffic and equipment violation” stop. After jumping out of the car before it came to a stop, he was shot by several officers while running away. The officers fired more than 90 bullets at the unarmed man who was struck 60 times.
Eight officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
The shooting set off several days of protests in the city, prompting city officials to declare the day of mourning.
“Tomorrow, Jayland Walker, a beloved son, brother, nephew, and friend will be laid to rest,” mayor Dan Horrigan said on Tuesday. “I want to thank Akron City Council for passing this resolution declaring tomorrow a day of mourning, in support of Jayland’s family and friends and to respect them in their time of grief. I know our entire city is also grieving. I offer my sincerest condolences to Jayland’s mom, sister, family, and friends during this difficult time.”
