The death of a black man shot dead by a white police officer in confused circumstances has caused tensions in Fayetteville, North Carolina (United States), where the relatives of the victim and the inhabitants gathered Thursday January 13 in the evening. The famous lawyer Ben Crump, who has defended many victims of police violence, participated in the organization of this event. “As the Truth Has Been Revealed” for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, or even Breonna Taylor, “the truth will be revealed for Jason Walker”, he said, referring to some of the most infamous victims of racist violence in the United States over the past two years.
Small groups of residents have already marched several times in this city of more than 200,000 inhabitants to demand the arrest of police officer Jeffrey Hash. Saturday, January 8 in the afternoon, this agent passed Jason Walker, an unarmed 37-year-old man crossing the street near his parents’ house. Off-duty Jeffrey Hash was riding in his vehicle with his wife and daughter. Moments later, he opened fire on Jason Walker, who quickly succumbed to his wounds.
What happened in the meantime is the subject of different versions. In an amateur video, filmed just after the tragedy and posted online, the policeman explains to colleagues called on the spot that Jason Walker threw himself in the middle of the street and that he braked to avoid him. According to him, the 30-year-old then jumped on his vehicle, ripped off his windshield wiper and used it to hit the windshield, forcing him to draw his weapon to protect his family.
Witnesses, however, ensure that he hit the pedestrian with his vehicle before stopping. “I saw him brake suddenly, stop and start again”, told Elizabeth Ricks on the ABC channel (in English). “I saw him hit Jason (…) and his body landed on the windshield. And then I heard shots. I believe he fired the first shot through the windshield and three more times outside the vehicle.”
According to the police, the black box of Jeffrey Hash’s pickup did not register a shock and Jason Walker’s body did not bear any traces other than those of bullets. The officer has been placed on administrative leave, but not arrested or charged at this stage. The investigations were entrusted to state investigators.