On April 1st in Akron, Ohio, a police officer shot a 15-year-old boy named Tavion Koonce-Williams who was holding what his family claims was a toy gun. The officer, Ryan Westlake, responded to a call reporting a person pointing a gun at houses. The gun turned out to be a “facsimile,” and Tavion was shot in the wrist by Officer Westlake. The city of Akron released Westlake’s file, revealing a history of disciplinary actions and use of force incidents. The police department released footage of the incident in an effort to be transparent.
The incident occurred after a woman reported seeing a Black male pointing a gun at houses. Westlake found Tavion a few blocks away and fired a shot that struck the teen in the wrist. Tavion was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. Police later recovered a toy gun that Tavion allegedly had in his possession before the shooting. Tavion’s family attorney stated that the toy gun was not pointed at anyone and that Tavion repeatedly said it was fake and that he just wanted to be safe.
In the footage released by the police department, Westlake is seen approaching Tavion and asking to see his hands. Moments later, Westlake reaches for his weapon, points it at Tavion, and fires a shot while Tavion repeatedly says, “It’s fake.” Tavion complies with Westlake’s commands to get on the ground and put his hands behind his back. The entire interaction lasts four minutes, during which Tavion is visibly distressed and bleeding from his wrist. The video also shows still images of the toy gun in Tavion’s hand and on the grass near the patrol vehicle.
Officer Westlake’s disciplinary records reveal a history of incidents, including suspension for using profanity, an anti-gay slur, and other offensive behaviors while intoxicated. In June 2022, he was suspended for a use of force incident in which he hit a suspect’s car during a chase. The Akron police union defended Westlake, stating that he acted within policy and training during the shooting. Westlake has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The attorney representing Tavion’s family criticized the lack of humanity shown to Tavion and called for justice and accountability. The family seeks answers and demands justice for Tavion, emphasizing that Black boys deserve to grow up without the threat of being shot by the police. An independent investigation into the use of force incident is being conducted, and the findings will be reviewed by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and a Summit County Grand Jury. The Akron Police Department will also conduct an internal investigation into the incident. The family and attorney plan to hold a press conference to further address the situation.
