Another night; another unarmed black man dead after a massive display of force.
Lord, have mercy.

A young Black man named Jayland Walker was killed in Akron, Ohio on June 27th. The reporting informs us that the police attempted a traffic stop around half past midnight. Walker was described as having fled the scene with his vehicle following the stop, reportedly firing at the police giving chase in their cruiser. After several minutes, Jayland Walker left the car, continuing his flight on foot. Because the police alleged that he fired at them from his vehicle, when they pursued him on foot, an assumption was made that he was armed and a threat. Later, a gun was found in the vehicle on the seat, with a loaded magazine and a wedding band. A casing that is believed to be from the gun was fired in the area around which it was reportedly fired.
Christ have mercy.

Jayland Walker’s life ended in a hail of bullets—ninety shots fired and at least sixty wounds to his body have been counted. What really killed the 25 year old man was fear. He fled the police because Black men in America are so often stopped by them and they wind up dead. Jayland Walker was afraid, so he ran. As the police chased him on foot, they too were afraid of him, stating they interpreted his movements as reaching for a gun, thus endangering them and the public. In the end, eight men fired ninety shots, and Jayland Walker was a dead man, discovered unarmed at the scene.
Lord have mercy.

Granted, we were not there, and what we know is limited. So for now we bear witness, and we say his name, because fear is killing us all, but it is the family of Jayland Walker who must now learn to live without their loved one.

Rest eternal grant to Jayland Walker, O Lord; And let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.