Jazmir Tucker Obituary, Death; – Authorities in Ohio have identified a 15-year-old individual as the person who was reportedly carrying a loaded firearm when he was shot and killed by an Akron police officer following gunfire in the vicinity on Thanksgiving night.
The Summit County medical examiner’s office confirmed on Friday evening that the deceased was 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker from Maple Heights.
According to a police news release, two patrol officers were stationed in a parked police cruiser in the Sherbondy Hill neighborhood, attending to a report related to an unrelated incident. They heard gunfire shortly after 11 p.m. on Thursday and proceeded to investigate the source of the noise.
Soon thereafter, the officers came across the youth armed with a loaded weapon. One of the officers discharged his firearm, striking the youth, who received immediate first aid before being transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The officer who discharged his weapon, who has served on the force for nearly five years, 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 stated in a social media update that its members are cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Mayor Shammas Malik expressed his condolences in a social media post on Friday night, stating, “Every loss of life is a tragedy, and to lose a young life is heartbreaking.” He extended his sympathies to Tucker’s family and acknowledged the emotional toll on “our Akron police officers and their families.”
Malik expressed confidence that the investigation conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation would yield a comprehensive understanding of the events. He urged the community to withhold judgment until more information is made available, recognizing the challenge of this request in such circumstances. Additionally, he announced that the city would release body-worn camera footage within the upcoming week to ensure transparency regarding the incident.
The state attorney general’s office will review the findings of the bureau’s investigation before presenting the report to a Summit County grand jury for further assessment.
