In Akron, Ohio, grief and unrest have swiftly followed the shooting death of 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker by a local police officer on Thanksgiving evening. Akron City Council President Margo Sommerville is calling for the immediate firing of the involved officer amid heated discussions during a Council meeting yesterday. According to Cleveland19, Sommerville commented, "I think the thing that was most troubling to me was how long it took to render aid to Jazmir to see him laying there an no one did anything. that should be a fireable offense."
The Council meeting unfolded against a backdrop of protestors outside City Hall demanding justice and accountability. The urgency of their calls was mirrored by some Council members who have moved to directly challenge the status quo. According to News 5 Cleveland, Councilwoman Linda F.R. Omobien has called for more support from Akron's Fraternal Order of Police in matters of training and accountability. "I want the FOP to join us in helping us train our officers, update their training," Omobien stated.
The fatal incident, which occurred on Nov. 28, has gained rapid attention, leading to calls for a reevaluation of police training and procedural accountability. Akron police officers reported hearing gunshots before encountering Tucker. The following response, where it took approximately eight minutes before Tucker, who had been shot, received aid, has become a particular point of contention. Acknowledging the recovery of a gun from Tucker's zipped-up jacket pocket, both officers have since been placed on paid administrative leave per departmental procedures, and Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation continues to look into the incident.
Tensions were palpable during the Council meeting as members and residents stood for the number of minutes Tucker lay without aid. In a statement obtained by Signal Akron, Council member Eric Garrett described the shooting as a "'Call of Duty'-style execution," while others, like At-Large Council Member Jeff Fusco, indicated a need to maintain due process, even for those in uniform. "Even if you wear a blue uniform, you have due process," Fusco expressed.
