AKRON, Ohio — After pausing Wednesday out of respect for the funeral of Jayland Walker, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Police Chief Steve Mylett resumed their daily press conferences on Thursday to discuss the death of the 25-year-old at the hands of Akron police. month.

The press conference can be viewed in the player above and on WKYC’s YouTube page.

Thursday’s press conference came a day after friends, family, community leaders and the general public gathered at the Akron Civic Theater to pay their respects at Walker’s funeral. Among those who spoke after the funeral was Until Freedom’s Tamika Mallory, who held police accountable after Walker’s death.

“We have to … get the narrative back, and that narrative should be ‘arrest the cops,'” Mallory said. “Lock up all the cops who are responsible for the death of a 25-year-old who was unarmed when he was lynched in front of the world.”

The incident involving Walker happened just after midnight on Monday, June 27, when officers attempted to stop his car for a traffic and equipment violation. Walker then led the officers in a high-speed chase down East Tallmadge Avenue toward State Route 8.

At some point during the chase, police say Walker fired a gun through his car window. Among the footage released on July 3 was a traffic video that showed a flash coming out of Walker’s car that they believe is consistent with a gunshot.

After the six-minute chase, Walker got out of the car on Wilbeth Road near the Bridgestone Tire offices while wearing a black ski mask. Footage shows officers attempting to deploy non-lethal Tasers before firing their weapons and hitting Walker, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting. While Horrigan could not confirm how shots were fired at Walker, he said he expected the number to be ‘high’ and initial medical reports showed he was 60 gunshot wounds.

Police say they fired their guns because Walker made a move that caused them to fear for their lives. Mylett said that while the real-time video is difficult to see, screenshots of the footage show Walker making several movements – including Walker moving his hand to his waist, turning to officers and making a forward movement. with his arm – which he said every officer involved believed was Walker moving into a “shooting” position.

A gun, magazine and gold wedding ring were found in the passenger seat of Walker’s car. Mylett said officers attempted to save lives at the scene before Walker was pronounced dead.

In accordance with departmental policy, the affected officers have been placed on paid administrative leave. Seven of the eight officers involved were white and none had previously faced work-related disciplinary action. Walker is black.

The incident is being investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

In the days following the incident and the release of body camera footage on July 3, protests in the Akron area led to several arrests and prompted Horrigan to implement multiple curfews in the downtown area. , including one from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., which has remained in effect since Monday evening.