Relatives of a Black man killed by Ohio police are settling their lawsuit

AKRON, Ohio — A family settles a wrongful death lawsuit against Ohio police who fired 94 bullets at a black man during a chase two years ago.

Jayland Walker’s family and the city of Akron have reached an agreement but have not disclosed details, according to a joint lawsuit filed Tuesday. The family’s attorneys said they would hold a news conference “at the appropriate time” to discuss the agreement, and city officials declined to comment while the settlement awaits a judge’s approval.

The lawsuit filed in June 2023 sought at least $45 million in damages from the officers involved in the shooting, the city and officials. The family said the officers used excessive force in the shooting and participated in a “culture of violence and racism” within the Akron Police Department.

The charges were filed months later a grand jury declined to indict the officers at death. Their names have not been released.

Walker, 25, was killed during a traffic stop on June 27, 2022after firing a single bullet from his vehicle, then ran from officers, according to a state investigation. He left the gun in his running car.

Killing another black man during a traffic stop increased tensions with the police and threw the city into turmoil.

The officers believed Walker was armed and posed a “deadly threat” when they fired nearly 100 rounds at him in less than seven seconds because he refused to raise his hands, the state investigation said.