Family of teen shot by Akron officer demands action
Nearly 10 years ago, Angel Williams recalls watching Tamir Rice’s mom talk about her son on television after he was shot and killed by a Cleveland police officer.
Williams said she is shocked to now be doing the same thing — talking about her 15-year-old son, Tavion Koonce-williams, being shot by an Akron police officer. Her son survived, but she said the heartache remains unbearable.
“We’re sick of watching our babies die in the hands of people sworn to protect and serve,” Williams said during a news conference Friday. “It has to stop.”
Twelve-year-old Tamir Rice was shot and killed in November 2014. Like Tavion, he was carrying a fake gun when he was shot.
Tavion’s family, community leaders and Imokhai Okolo, the family’s attorney, said Tavion’s shooting is another in a long line of systemic police brutality and racism that has gone unaddressed in Akron and nationwide.
“When will enough be enough?” Okolo asked.
Okolo called on the city of Akron and the Akron Police Department to take several steps in response to Tavion’s shooting, including immediately firing Ryan Westlake, the officer involved in the April 1 shooting. Westlake responded to the nonemergency call for a male pointing a gun at homes in the Goodyear Heights neighborhood and shot Tavion before exiting his cruiser.
The family also asked for:
● Akron Mayor Shammas Malik to explain why Westlake was fired in July 2021 and reinstated the next day under previous Mayor Dan Horrigan’s administration after he was declared unfit to be a police officer.
● Akron City Council to establish measures to hold the city’s Fraternal Order of Police union accountable for supporting officers with troubled disciplinary histories.
● The city to investigate officers with a history of violating police policies and terminate those unfit to wear the badge.
● The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to do a thorough investigation of the shooting.
● The U.S. Department of Justice to do a “pattern and practice” investigation of this shooting and other incidents in Akron.
Community leaders and U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes called on the Justice Department to investigate Akron’s police practices after Jayland Walker’s shooting in June 2022. Walker was shot and killed by eight Akron officers.
Recounting the April 1 shooting
The news conference was five days after the city released body-worn camera footage and the personnel file of Westlake, a nine-year veteran of the police department involved in the shooting.
Body camera footage showed how Westlake pulled up alongside Tavion on Brittain Road, opened his car door and asked to see the teen’s hands. That’s when Westlake fired a single shot, striking Tavion in the hand and wrist.
“Oh s---,” the officer said immediately after shooting the gun. “Shots fired. Shots fired.”
Throwing his hands in the air, Tavion yelled that the gun was a fake.
The teen, an East High School sophomore, could face a facsimile firearms charge, Okolo said.
City and police leaders have said the shooting will be investigated by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with the findings presented to a grand jury. The police department and the Citizen’s Police Oversight Board will then also conduct investigations.
The Akron FOP has defended Westlake’s
actions and predicted they will be found to be justified. Westlake is currently on paid administrative leave, which is the department’s policy.
History of disciplinary action
Westlake’s personnel file showed a disciplinary record for several incidents that occurred while he was on and off duty, including one in which he pulled a weapon on his girlfriend while intoxicated.
Then-mayor Horrigan fired Westlake in July 2021, saying he wasn’t “fit” to be an Akron officer. The city, though, rescinded Westlake’s termination in a deal reached with the police union, according to personnel records. Westlake agreed to serve a 71-day suspension and withdraw all appeals or grievances.
During the news conference, Okolo said Westlake was found to have improperly used a taser during another incident.
Information on this incident wasn’t included in the personnel records released by the city Monday.
Stephanie Marsh, a spokeswoman for the city, said Friday that not every document on officers is kept in their personnel file. She said the city will be releasing “additional information in the coming weeks.”
The Beacon Journal has requested numerous additional records on Westlake from the city and police department.
Father says Tavion left scarred
Tavion, whose right hand was bandaged, didn’t speak during the news conference held at an event hall near the former Chapel Hill Mall. He mostly sat with his eyes downcast, flanked by family and community leaders.
James Koonce, Tavion’s father, said he is grateful Tavion survived but said his son has had trouble sleeping and has been afraid and anxious. He said Tavion will forever have a scar to remind him of the shooting.
“I ask you to keep us in your prayers during this time,” he said.
Community leaders say teen wasn’t at fault
Akron NAACP President Judi Hill said she has been disturbed by many of the online comments that blame Tavion for the shooting. She said there was no report that shots had been fired, a home had been damaged or of gang activity in the area.
“At no time did (Tavion) endanger the lives of anyone,” Hill said. “At no time did this young man endanger the police officer. At no time did you see him lunge at the officer or do anything that looked threatening.”
Hill said officers should rely on their training to guide them in situations like this. She thinks the department needs to put more of an emphasis in its training on de-escalation techniques.
“I agree he should not have had a toy gun,” Hill said. “The officer trained to assess the situation should not have shot.”
The Rev. Ray Greene, who heads the Freedom BLOC, pointed out that Tavion was “carrying a toy gun in a state where open carry is legal.” He said Tavion survived but was left traumatized.
“He may be breathing, he may be talking, he may be walking — but his life is forever changed,” Greene said. “Trauma has taken over.”
Attorney: Teen was walking to his grandmother’s house
In response to questions from the media, Okolo said Tavion was walking down the street, carrying a toy gun on the way to his grandmother’s house when the shooting happened. He said this was a “normal, regular day” for the teen.
Asked after the news conference about statements Tavion made that can be heard on the body-worn camera video about carrying the gun for safety, Okolo said Tavion will eventually talk about this but isn’t yet ready.
The teen also says in the video that he recently attended his cousin’s funeral. Oklolo said more information about his cousin’s death will be released later.
Okolo said Tavion’s injury from the shooting left him with no permanent physical damage. He said Tavion was taken to the hospital and able to go home a short time later.
He said the teen hasn’t yet returned to school.
Bryce Buyakie can be reached at bbuyakie@gannett.com. Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.