Outrage has mounted following the fatal Thanksgiving night shooting of 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker by police in Akron, Ohio.
According to a police statement, per Fox 8, two officers were in their vehicle when they heard gunshots. As they investigated, they encountered Tucker, who had a loaded gun, and a foot chase ensued.
The outlet reported that the officers’ body camera audio wasn’t activated. But the video showed a five-year police veteran fire his rifle at the teen, hitting him as they shouted, “Stop moving, stop moving, put your hands out to your side.”
JUSTICE FOR JAZMIR TUCKER
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Stanley Jackson, a lawyer representing Tucker’s family, said the officers waited over 10 minutes before helping the high school student. As The Guardian reported, the body cam video shows “that a group of officers waited seven minutes to approach the boy after he had been shot.”
The New York Times reported that Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said the recovered gun was found “inside a zipped pocket on Jazmir’s clothing.”
“Given that, why did the officer decide to use his weapon?” Malik asked in a statement, also expressing concern about the officers’ delay in providing medical aid.
“I also believe that many will ask why the officers used rifles instead of handguns in responding to this incident,” Malik said, per The Guardian. “This will be something that we discuss more going forward, including in the internal investigation, and as part of our comprehensive review of use of force, including when and how different weapons are used.”
Fox 8 reported that attorney Robert Gresham said, “These officers clearly engaged Jaz with aggressive intent,” adding, “Unfortunately this is the culture of Akron police.”
The outlet also mentioned that Akron Police Chief Brian Harding said it’s department policy to activate body cameras when responding; he was unsure whether officers violated that policy in this case.
The officer who shot Tucker is on paid administrative leave, which the outlet noted is standard.
The post Jazmir Tucker, 15, Was Shot By Poilce; Body Cam Footage Shows Officers Waited Several Minutes Before Providing Aid appeared first on Blavity.
