Akron Officer Under Investigation After Shooting

An officer's conduct is being scrutinized in Akron, Ohio, following an incident where he discharged over twelve bullets at a man suspected of wielding a firearm.

The mayor has noted that preliminary findings suggest the individual, who remains unnamed, might not have possessed a weapon during the confrontation.

The encounter began shortly after 9 p.m. on November 11, following several emergency calls regarding an altercation near a local bar.

A caller reportedly informed authorities that a man expelled from the establishment was spotted outside, allegedly brandishing a gun and aiming it at the venue.

The caller described the item as resembling a black 9mm and suggested that an attempt to discharge it failed, causing the group to flee.

Body Camera Footage Revealed

Footage from police body cameras, made public on Tuesday, shows an officer interacting with the individual, commanding him to take his hands out of his pockets.

The officer's instructions were clear: lay down or risk being shot.

Within half a minute of leaving his vehicle, the officer unleashed a flurry of shots, striking the man several times.

The wounded individual, while being restrained, fervently claimed he was unarmed.

Despite his injuries, he repeated, 'I never had a gun,' as officers rendered medical assistance.

Ongoing Investigation

Currently, the individual is hospitalized in a state of unconsciousness, according to his family.

The officer, with approximately four years in law enforcement and one year with Akron police, is on administrative leave in accordance with department policy.

Mayor Shammas Malik stated on Tuesday that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation would ascertain if the man had a weapon at any point before the shooting, though initial insights suggest otherwise.

The mayor referred to the incident as a catalyst for a thorough examination of the police department's use-of-force tactics.

The department's Office of Professional Standards and Accountability is set to launch an independent internal review.