The police indicated in an official statement that two officers were inside their parked cruiser in the Sherbondy Hill neighborhood while handling paperwork related to a separate incident. Shortly after 11 p.m. on Thursday, they heard gunfire in the vicinity, prompting them to exit their vehicle to investigate further.
Afterward, the officers came upon the teenager armed with a loaded gun. One of the officers discharged his weapon, hitting Tucker, who received immediate first aid before being rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Following the incident, the officer who fired his weapon, along with his partner, has been placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with departmental policy. The Fraternal Order of Police Akron Lodge No. 7 expressed on social media that its members are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Mayor Shammas Malik shared his condolences on social media, stating that “Every loss of life is a tragedy, and to lose a young life is heartbreaking.” He expressed his sympathies to Tucker’s family and extended his thoughts to the officers involved and their families as well.
Malik expressed confidence that the inquiry led by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation would shed light on the circumstances surrounding the event. He urged the community to refrain from forming judgments until more comprehensive details emerge, acknowledging the difficulty of such a request in troubling situations like this.
Furthermore, the mayor mentioned that body-worn camera footage would be released within the week to enhance transparency regarding the event.
The Ohio state attorney general’s office will examine the findings of the investigation before presenting the details to a Summit County grand jury for assessment. Additionally, Akron police will conduct an independent internal inquiry and present the findings to both the police chief and the city’s police auditor.
