Akron Police have released a gas station surveillance video, along with body cam videos from two police officers who were involved in the shooting of 54 year old Michael Jones of Akron, last weekend.
It happened after they approached him while he was sitting in a U-Haul truck, in the parking lot of the Duke and Duchess gas station in the 2000 block of East Avenue, in Kenmore, last Saturday morning, August 17. At the time, the officers were investigating the report of a stolen vehicle.
As you will see in the body cam videos, that when the officers asked Jones to get out of the truck, and told him he was under arrest; he took off with them actually hanging onto him in the drivers' seat.
Please note, the footage is graphic and should be viewed with caution. You can watch it by clicking here.
What is hard to determine from the footage though, is how the shot that took Jones' life actually got fired. You can't really see it from what has been provided so far, as footage is grainy and jumps around, as the officers are jostled in the truck.
After it stops, you can see one of the officers running back to his cruiser to get a chest compress for Jones' bullet wound, which they say is in his side.
You can also hear them talking about a loaded gun in the vehicle, but they do not say that he fired at them.
The officer who shot Jones has been with the police department for two and a half years, and he is now on paid administrative leave while both an internal investigation, and a State inquiry by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), is underway,
Akron Mayor, Shammas Malik, released the following statement:
“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.
While it is never easy to watch someone’s last moments, I believe it is important that our community has a clear picture of what we know so far. I also want to acknowledge that the investigative process is in the beginning stages.
Over the coming months, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will conduct a full, independent investigation of this incident. Then, the APD Office of Professional Standards and Accountability (OPSA) will conduct an internal investigation that will be reviewed by Akron’s Independent Police Auditor’s office.
I am committed to making sure our community continues to have robust, open conversations about public safety, in order to strengthen a collective sense of safety in Akron.
My thoughts remain with the loved ones of Mr. Jones, and with the officers involved.”