Walker family attorney questions Akron's protest preparations as grand jury convenes

As a special grand jury convenes in Akron to review the killing of Jayland Walker by eight police officers last year, the Walker family's attorney has issued a statement calling for "equal access to justice and a fair process."

Walker, 25, was fatally shot more than 40 times by eight Akron police officers on June 27 after a car and foot chase for an equipment violation. He was unarmed during the shooting, but police said he fired a shot from his vehicle less than a minute into the chase. A handgun was found in his vehicle.

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Eight police officers were put on leave following Walker's death, but have since been reinstated to desk duty.

A special grand jury was convened Monday to review an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to determine if any of the eight officers broke any laws.

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In advance of the grand jury review, Walker family attorney Bobby DiCello on Monday criticized the city's response to potential protests about the grand jury decision.

"...The city is boarding up windows and bracing for violence. Why? Because the City of Akron doesn't trust a significant portion of its citizens," DiCello said. "It has decided that if there's going to be violence, it will come from people who are sick and tired of a system that has ignored them and injured them for generations. City leadership doesn’t understand where that anger comes from. It doesn’t want to have that conversation because deep down, it simply doesn’t care what they are going through."

There was some violence and damage downtown and police arrested about 50 people in the days following Walker's death last year.

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DiCello also said that the eight officers involved "will be invited" to testify before the grand jury, though it is not clear whether that will happen.

"Keep in mind that if any other Akron citizen was accused of a crime, they would not necessarily be afforded that same privilege. Simply put, it's a process that favors the officers," DiCello said.

A representative of DiCello's office later said there is no confirmation the officers will testify before the special grand jury. The Ohio Attorney General's Office also would not comment on the process.

People facing potential criminal charges are not present in grand jury proceedings unless they are called as witnesses, according to the Ohio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. They do not have a right to have their attorney present even if they are called as witnesses.

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In his statement, DiCello also said the Walker family is not confident the grand jury will deliver a fair verdict.

"Today the family of Jayland Walker urges you to be mindful of how important it is that in America, everyone has equal access to justice and a fair process. They are not advocating for anything more than that. Unfortunately, this process is already stacked against them, but they will continue to fight for the justice that they and Jayland deserve."

Eric Marotta can be reached at 234-973-8138 or at emarotta@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Walker family attorney calls for 'fair process' as grand jury seated