John Crawford III was gunned down in a Walmart by Beavercreek, Ohio police when authorities said he refused to drop a weapon on August 5. Customers reported that Crawford was carrying an AR-15 rifle. Police say they shot Crawford after he failed to drop the weapon, which turned out to be a pellet rifle. In the weeks following the shooting, the Beavercreek Police Department has been reluctant to release the store’s surveillance video. Now, the attorney for Crawford’s family, Michael Wright, is coming forward with the details of the video.
Though the Crawford family hasn’t spoken about what’s on the video, Wright maintains that the video contradicts the police account of what happened. The surveillance video from Walmart, which is notoriously known for selling guns and other weapons, shows Crawford talking on a cell phone, leaning on a toy gun, moments before being fatally shot by a police officer, according to Wright. “John was doing nothing wrong in Walmart, nothing more, nothing less than shopping,” Wright said.
Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine says that the video will not be released to the public in an effort to assist with jury selection. “I thought the family had the right to view it. The mom did not want to view it. I understand it,” said Dewine. “The dad did view it. To put the video out on TV is not the right thing to do.”
The case will be heard by a grand jury on September 22. All eyes will be locked to find out what exactly is on the surveillance video and if this will be enough to clear John Crawford’s name and convict the shooting police officer as the case moves closer to resolution.