Jayland Walker's family files $45M lawsuit against Akron, APD and 8 officers who shot him

The family of Jayland Walker, who was shot and killed by eight Akron officers nearly a year ago, has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Akron, the officers who shot Walker and several other officers and public officials.

The Walker family is alleging excessive force and is seeking at least $45 million in damages — which the family said is $1 million for each bullet that struck Walker.

“We anticipate the parties will get a fair trial here in Akron," Bobby DiCello, one of the family’s Cleveland attorneys, said during a news conference Friday afternoon at First Congregational Church of Akron.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Akron and has been assigned to Judge John Adams.

DiCello, who was flanked by the Walker family and members of his legal team, said Walker's death is part of a long history of racism and violence within the Akron Police Department. He said this lawsuit will shed light on these troubling practices.

"You'll know who the real monster is — and it's not Jayland Walker," he said. "I stand against hate."

More: Complete coverage of the Jayland Walker police shooting in Akron, Ohio

Stephanie Marsh, a spokeswoman for the city, said the city was not releasing a response in reaction to the filing.

"The city of Akron does not comment on pending litigation, so we won’t be sharing anything at this time," she said in an emailed response.

Clay Cozart, president of the Akron police union, also declined to comment on the suit.

Walker, 25, was shot and killed June 27, 2022, after he fled from police first in his car and then by foot. He was unarmed when he was gunned down, but had fired a shot out of his car window while fleeing.

He was shot by eight officers who said they thought Walker might still be armed. A gun was recovered in Walker’s car after the shooting. Walker had at least 46 entrance wounds, an autopsy found.

A special grand jury recently decided against indicting the officers.

Mayor, chief, numerous officers and police supervisors are targeted in lawsuit

The lawsuit was filed by Jada Walker, Jayland’s sister and the administrator of his estate, against the city, Mayor Dan Horrigan, Police Chief Steve Mylett and several police supervisors who were involved in the Walker incident.

The lawsuit is also against the eight officers who shot Walker, though they are listed under numbers, rather than names.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the defendant shooters are identified using pseudonyms due to the high-profile nature of this matter,” the lawsuit says.

The city has refused to publicly release the names of the officers involved in Walker’s shooting. The Beacon Journal is suing over this issue, with a lawsuit pending before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Ken Abbarno, another of Walker's attorneys, said the attorneys have asked Adams for permission not to name the officers. He said it will be up to Adams to decide if the names should be released.

Abbarno said the family doesn't want to distract from the point of the lawsuit with the names issue.

"We're here for the Walker family," he said. "Jayland was a wonderful young man ... They wanted to tear him down. We're here to lift him up and show what the city really is."

The lawsuit alleges excessive force, supervisory liability and municipal liability and claims that Walker’s constitutional rights were violated. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees and costs, and “equitable relief, including, without limitation, that defendant city of Akron be made to adopt an appropriate policy to prevent future instances of the type of misconduct” described in the lawsuit.

Attorney points to newsletter as example of racism

DiCello pointed as an example of racism in the Akron Police Department to the "Singal 44" underground newsletter written by an Akron officer in 1998, which drew a lot of criticism and publicity at the time, including numerous articles by the Beacon Journal.

The satirical newsletter, written by a white officer, referred to a predominantly black neighborhood in Akron as an "urban game preserve" and to the people who live there as "species."

DiCello said the officer who wrote the newsletter remained on the department until he retired in 2019. The officer, though, was suspended after the newsletter became public and issued a public apology.

DiCello said several officers who are still with the department were questioned about the newsletter as part of an internal affairs investigation and said they thought it was amusing.

DiCello called the Akron Police Department "one of the most corrupt" departments he's ever known and said it has a "culture of violence and hate."

Family wants to see changes in police policies

Asked what changes the family would like to see within the police department, DiCello said he was pleased this week to hear that Mylett said the pursuit policy will be changed.

More: Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett announces changes to pursuit policy, new co-responder program

DiCello said his legal team and the Walker family would like to be involved in crafting the new policy.

He noted that a new mayor will soon be taking over for Horrigan and said he would love to have a dialogue with him.

DiCello said police should be encouraged to write more accurate reports and every officer should be given a body-worn camera without the ability to silence the microphones.

Walker's mother becomes emotional

Asked if Pamela Walker, who hasn't spoken often publicly, wanted to discuss the lawsuit, DiCello said she was too emotional to speak.

DiCello, though, said Walker told him, "This is not about the money. This is about this never happening again."

DiCello said Sunday is Father's Day, a day Walker won't get to share with any children he might have had.

Pamela Walker began to cry.

As the news conference ended, Walker turned and looked at a picture of her son enlarged on a display board.

"He was such a beautiful person," she said tearfully as she was comforted by several people.

Read the Walker family lawsuit against Akron

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jayland Walker's family suing Akron, 8 officers over fatal shooting