It’s been two years since the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker , and family members, Akron residents, and other community members gathered at St. Ashworth Temple Thursday evening in his memory.
“I’m very thankful for everyone that comes to do this every year. I don’t want anyone in this community or anywhere to forget my son,” said Walker’s mother, Pamela Walker.
Walker was a quiet, peaceful, funny guy, said his friends and former wrestling coach at Buchtel High School.
He was 25 when he was killed by Akron police following a car chase that began in the city’s North Hill neighborhood early June 27, 2022, and ended in Firestone Park. Police later released body camera footage that showed the pursuit and Walker being shot multiple times by eight officers.
Just moments before Walker’s memorial, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, announced she had introduced a bill in Congress that aims to improve relationships between law enforcement members and the communities they serve. In a news release, Sykes mentioned the Walker case, along with others, as an impetus for the bill.