John Crawford
The parents of the 22-year-old Black man shot by police at an Ohio Walmart plan to attend the protest march in Washington D.C., on Saturday, along with the relatives of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old shot by police in Cleveland, Ohio.
John Crawford III was shot by a white officer at the Beavercreek location east of Dayton, Ohio, on Aug. 5 while carrying an air rifle. He died at a hospital shortly after.
Police brutality and use of deadly force have been the recurring theme of protests since the death of Michael Brown on Aug. 9 sparked nationwide protests.
The #Justice4All March, organized by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, is being held on Saturday, Dec. 13. The families of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin will be at the march, according to a NAN press release.
On the day Crawford died, a 911 call reported someone waving a rifle while walking around the store. Without a warning, an officer peeked out from behind an aisle and fired at Crawford.
A grand jury decided not to indict police officers for the shooting that resulted in his death.
In reaction to the grand jury’s decision, the family’s statement read, “It is absolutely incomprehensible that Beavercreek police officer Sean Williams was NOT indicted for the unlawful killing of John H. Crawford, lll. It makes absolutely no sense that an unarmed 22-year-old man would be killed doing what any American citizen does every day: shopping at a Walmart store. The Crawford family is extremely disappointed, disgusted and confused. They are heartbroken that justice was not done in the tragic death of their only son.”
A surveillance video that showed Crawford being shot and killed by police wasn’t made public until after the grand jury’s decision.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the case.
