Police in Akron, Ohio, released body camera and security video showing an officer fatally shooting Michael Jones, a 54-year-old man suspected of stealing a U-Haul box truck on August 17. The video depicted the events leading up to the shooting, the attempt to arrest Jones, and the minutes following the incident. The officer involved in the shooting, who has been with the department for 2½ years, has been placed on administrative leave. The officers were investigating a stolen vehicle at a gas station when they encountered Jones in the driver’s seat of the U-Haul truck. The video shows a struggle between Jones and the officer before Jones drives away, prompting the officer to shoot him. Jones was dragged out of the vehicle and handcuffed, and a loaded firearm was found on or near him.
The Akron Police Department is conducting an internal investigation, and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation is also looking into the incident. The case will be reviewed by the state attorney general’s office and the Summit County Grand Jury. Mayor Shammas Malik expressed condolences to Jones’ family and stressed the importance of transparency in the investigation. Jones’ children, represented by attorney Bobby DiCello, are seeking justice and holding the officers accountable for their actions. They are puzzled by the use of force, including a taser and gun, on Jones, who they claim posed no threat. The family is determined to seek justice for Jones and to ensure accountability.
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