Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Akron, Ohio — In the early hours of Saturday, August 17, 2024, what started as a routine investigation into a stolen U-Haul at a gas station on East Avenue took a turn for the worse.
Akron police officers arrived at the Arco gas station just after 1 a.m., spotting the U-Haul in question. They pulled up behind the truck, and one officer approached the driver’s side door, ready to investigate further.
But things quickly spiraled. Just as the officer was knocking on the door, it appeared as though the U-Haul was going to take off. The officer managed to open the door, asking the driver, 54-year-old Michael Jones, to step out.
#OH
*potentially disturbing*
“The Akron Police Department on Saturday released surveillance and body camera footage depicting the Aug. 17 shooting in which an officer fatally shot a man suspected of stealing a vehicle in the parking lot of an East Avenue gas station.”— Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) August 24, 2024
At first, Jones seemed to comply—he took off his seatbelt and began to get out. But then, he hesitated and asked why he was being arrested.
That’s when the situation got chaotic. Jones suddenly hit the gas, and the officers struggled to regain control. In the midst of the struggle, one officer fired two shots, hitting Jones.
The officers then pulled Jones from the vehicle, handcuffed him, and tried to administer first aid, but it was too late—Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Afterward, the officers found a loaded handgun in the vehicle.
Fast forward to August 24, and Akron Mayor Malik addressed the community after the police department released body camera footage of the incident.
“Today, the Akron Police Department released body camera footage and surveillance camera footage of the officer-involved shooting last Saturday that resulted in the death of 54-year-old Michael Jones. My heart goes out to his family in this loss,” Mayor Shammas Malik said in a recent press release obtained by GunsAmerica.
He acknowledged that watching the footage wasn’t easy but emphasized the need for the community to see what happened.
The mayor also stressed that the investigation is just beginning. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will be conducting a full, independent investigation.
On top of that, the Akron Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards and Accountability (OPSA) will do its own internal review, with Akron’s Independent Police Auditor keeping a close eye on the process.
Mayor Malik reassured the community that he’s committed to keeping the conversation about public safety open and honest.
“My thoughts remain with the loved ones of Mr. Jones, and with the officers involved,” he said.
After watching the footage, what are your thoughts? Was the use of force justified?
[H/T: Police Activity]
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