Bodycam footage shows Akron police shooting of teen determined to be holding a fake gun

Physique digital camera footage launched by the Metropolis of Akron on Monday reveals the April 1 capturing of teenager Tavion Koonce-Williams, who was shot within the hand after a 911 caller reported him to police for holding what was later decided to be a toy gun.

Video reveals that the teenager, who was not named by police however was later recognized by the household legal professional, 15-year-old Koonce-Williams, was shot within the hand by an Akron Police Division (APD) officer after a 911 caller, who was strolling her canine within the space, reported to police that Koonce-Williams was pointing a gun at individuals’s houses.

Video reveals the officer arriving on the scene and asking the teenager to place his arms behind his again earlier than firing a single shot that injured the teenager’s hand as he exited his car. The teenager will be seen along with his arms up within the air amid the capturing, repeatedly screaming, “it is pretend, it is pretend, it is pretend,” relating to the gun, because the officer exits his car.

Legal professional Imokhai Okolo, who represents the teenager and his household, launched an announcement on Monday, saying that the household of the East Excessive Faculty pupil is “heartbroken” and is in search of justice.

“[He] is now grappling with the trauma of being profiled and having his life flash earlier than his eyes after being shot,” Okolo stated. “Tavion was shot on the within of his wrist which clearly signifies his arms have been up when he was shot.”

The officer was recognized by town of Akron on Monday as Ryan Westlake, a nine-year veteran of the division and who has been positioned on paid administrative depart amid the investigation.

The town additionally launched Westlake’s personnel file, displaying that he was initially fired from APD in July 2021 as a result of numerous coverage violations, however was then rehired following an settlement with the police union.

“The officer’s file consists of a lot of disciplinary actions and use of power incidents, one in every of which has been deemed unreasonable. Moreover, town anticipates having additional data to launch within the coming weeks,” in line with the assertion launched by town on Monday.

The Akron Fraternal Order of Police (AFOP), the union representing Westlake, informed Akron ABC affiliate WEWS that this “is a particularly tough state of affairs for everybody concerned. There’s all the time a priority every time an officer is confronted with the extremely difficult, split-second determination to defend himself and others towards an armed suspect.”

“We’re assured when all of the information are launched, our officer’s actions can be deemed justified,” the assertion added.

ABC Information reached out to the AFOP for additional remark.

“The incident stays beneath investigation (BCI), and as a result of unbiased investigation, we can’t be committing additional,” a spokesman for the Akron Police Division informed ABC Information on Tuesday.

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik stated in an announcement on Monday that town launched the physique digital camera footage and the officer’s personnel file in an “effort to be as clear as doable.”

“We’ll proceed to be clear and communicative as the method unfolds,” he added.

What the video reveals

The capturing happened at round 7:04 p.m. on April 1st after a 911 name, which was additionally launched by police on Monday, reporting a male within the space of Newton Road and Tonawanda Avenue allegedly pointing a gun at surrounding homes, in line with police.

“I used to be calling as a result of I am strolling my canine and there’s a man strolling down the road and he was aiming a gun at individuals’s homes. He pulled it out and was performing like he was going to shoot their homes,” the caller stated within the audio of the 911 name.

Requested if the male was “white or Black,” the caller stated, “Black male, shorter dreads, he has a black hoodie on and it has like Adidas or one thing written on the again and the gun was like slightly bit greater than a pistol.”

A responding officer approached “the topic matching the colours description” at roughly 7:11 p.m. native time whereas he was strolling on Britton Street, close to the nook of Ottawa Avenue, in line with police.

“The officer stopped his marked police automotive to analyze. Because the officer started to exit his patrol automotive. He rapidly issued a verbal command for the male to indicate his arms,” police stated in an announcement, accompanying the discharge of the physique digital camera footage. “Seconds later, the officer discharged his firearm one time putting the male within the hand after observing the topic with what seemed to be a gun in his hand.”

“Pictures fired, drop to the bottom!” the officer stated, repeatedly screaming to the officer that the gun is “pretend,” Koonce-Williams dropped to the bottom, footage reveals.

Video reveals the teenager crying in ache all through the incident as officers place him in handcuffs whereas he’s on the bottom. He tells police that he was on his method house from his cousin’s funeral and says that his grandmother lives down the road.

“I can not really feel my hand,” he cries.

“I am a very good child, I get A’s in class, I play soccer,” he tells officers as they render first support.

Koonce-Williams was transported to an space hospital the place he “underwent therapy for a non life threatening damage,” police stated.

“Tavion now finds himself within the lineage of Black youth being profiled and shot by the Akron Police Division with completely no justification or regard for human life,” Okolo stated.

Okolo claimed that town is contemplating expenses towards the teenager following the incident. Requested if expenses could possibly be filed towards the teenager, a spokesperson for town of Akron didn’t instantly reply to ABC Information’ inquiry.

Based on APD, the Ohio Bureau of Felony Investigations (BCI) will examine this case and as soon as it is full, the findings can be turned over to the Ohio Legal professional Basic’s Workplace for overview.

A BCI spokesperson confirmed to ABC Information on Monday that their “investigation is lively and ongoing.”

The spokesperson added that “findings can be referred to the county prosecutor for his or her overview” and stated the Summit County Prosecutor’s Workplace requested that case even be offered to a grand jury for analysis.