More details are emerging about the fatal police shooting of 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker, a Black teen who was gunned down by authorities Thanksgiving night in Akron, Ohio.
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According to the Guardian, authorities have released body camera footage of the incident, but key details surrounding the shooting remain unclear due to parts of the video being obscured. The footage shows an officer firing at the teenager almost immediately upon encountering him, while a group of officers reportedly waited seven minutes before approaching the boy after he was shot.
Legal representatives for Tucker’s family claimed that officers did not begin providing medical assistance until 10 minutes after the shooting.
On Dec. 5, Shammas Malik, Akron’s Mayor, released the body camera footage that was saved from the chilling incident to maintain transparency with community members as an investigation remains underway.
According to police, in the alarming footage, two Akron patrol officers approached 15-year-old Tucker shortly after 11 p.m. on Nov. 28, following reports of gunshots in the area. The police claimed that when they approached him, Tucker fled on foot. One officer then fired his assault rifle, fatally striking the teen. Tucker was later pronounced dead at a hospital, and no officers were injured.
The body camera footage, which lasts around eight minutes, is difficult to fully interpret. The first 30 seconds are silent, a standard feature when a body camera is activated, and the shooting occurs within that timeframe. The video appears to show the officer chasing Tucker, raising his rifle, and firing for approximately three seconds, potentially discharging seven rounds. However, the camera’s view is obstructed by the officer’s arms and long gun, making it unclear whether Tucker was visible during the shooting.
Mayor Malik expressed that he had numerous “questions” about the events leading up to the incident, particularly noting that the two officers involved “did not activate their body cameras upon exiting their vehicle.” The cameras were only triggered later, automatically activating due to the lights of a nearby cruiser. Once turned on, the body cameras capture 30 seconds of footage without audio, meaning there is some video of the shooting but no accompanying sound.
“An officer’s decision to use deadly force is the most consequential decision they can make and the circumstances surrounding the use of deadly force demand a heightened scrutiny,” Mayor Malik penned in a statement. “Often, in these incidents, viewing the officer-worn body camera footage and other available video helps to clarify circumstances and answer some questions.”
At one point in the footage, an officer is heard shouting at the unresponsive Tucker, who is lying on the ground, demanding that he raise his hands. About seven minutes after the shooting, between eight and 10 officers gather around Tucker. They proceed to handcuff him and search his pockets, where they claim to have found a gun in one of his zipped-up pockets.
Police have not disclosed any information about the actions taken by officers to provide medical assistance or attempt to save Tucker’s life. However, Mayor Malik has promised to investigate further and uncover more details about the troubling conduct exhibited by the officers.
“In hindsight, the amount of time that expired between the shooting and the initiation of physical aid to Jazmir is deeply troubling to me. I want to be clear that any unreasonable delay in the rendering of aid by police officers is unacceptable and has no place in Akron,” he wrote. “This issue will also be part of our internal investigation.”
According to Fox 8 and News 5 Cleveland, on Dec. 9, dozens of community members gathered outside Akron City Hall to demand justice for 15-year-old Tucker. Many protesters are calling for the officers involved in the shooting to be fired. Chanting “Justice for Jazmir,” the demonstrators stood in front of the building for more than seven minutes—the amount of time officers allegedly waited before providing aid to the teen.
“He was more than a headline but a child and a member of this community,” a protester named William Reynolds told Fox 8.“It’s important for people to wake up and understand what’s going on. They’re sending a clear message that anybody is a target and can get it,” a protester named Winter added.
Inside Akron City Hall, council members gathered to discuss the disturbing case. While many city officials remained silent, Brian Lucey, president of the police union, addressed the public. He reassured community members that the union would be fully cooperating in the investigation. Lucey emphasized their commitment to maintaining an open dialogue with the community but also made it clear that they would not tolerate recent threats made against officers.
“Communication is crucial while we await the results of the BCI investigation. However, we must also make it clear that any threats will not be tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately,” he said, according to News 5 Cleveland.
Akron City Council President Margo Sommerville declared that the department would hold the officers accountable for their actions if they were not following standard protocol.
“When officers do the right thing, we should commend them. They should be celebrated. But when they do the opposite, we need to hold them accountable,” Sommerville stressed.
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