The family of a 15-year-old boy who was tragically shot by police in Ohio on Thanksgiving is speaking out after bodycam footage of the incident was released.
Ashley Greene, the mother of Jazmir Tucker, who passed away on November 28, expressed her heartbreak, saying, “I’m just really devastated. Jazmir was a great kid, very humorous. I just don’t know what to say.”
Another family member, Miss Cotton, shared how Jazmir was always smiling and full of life, saying, “Everybody loved Jaz and Jaz loved everyone else.” She added that he even enjoyed doing yard work. “Our family is just devastated. We’re just hoping for, looking for prayers,” she said.
The Akron Police Department stated that Jazmir was holding a loaded gun when he was shot. Police say two officers heard gunshots late that night and went to check it out. They encountered Jazmir, who ran away, and one officer fired at him. Jazmir was given first aid and taken to the hospital, but he later died.
Days later, the police released bodycam footage from the officers. The video shows one officer firing at Jazmir and then telling him to “put your hands up.” The officer later explained they fired because they saw Jazmir “reaching with his right hand.” Afterward, the officers handcuffed Jazmir and found a gun in his jacket pocket.
Other officers arrived and started giving Jazmir first aid about seven minutes after the shooting. They waited until EMS arrived to take him to the hospital.
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said he had many questions after watching the bodycam video, including why the officer didn’t turn on their camera when they got out of their vehicle and why rifles were used instead of handguns. He also expressed concern over the delay in helping Jazmir after he was shot, saying, “Any unreasonable delay in the rendering of aid by police officers is unacceptable and has no place in Akron.”
Police Chief Brian Harding shared his condolences with the Tucker family, acknowledging that these situations are deeply tragic for everyone involved. “When an officer makes the decision to use their weapon, it’s the most serious decision they can make, and none of us want to see a loss of life,” he said. An independent investigation is underway to look into the incident.
