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No Indictment for officers in Beavercreek Walmart shooting

Wayne Baker
/
WYSO

A grand jury in Greene County has found that the actions of officers involved in the Beavercreek Walmart shooting were justified. In response, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced it will investigate. 

Twenty-two-year-old John Crawford III was fatally shot by police in the store the evening of August 5th. A 9-1-1 caller reported Crawford was waving what appeared to be a rifle. Police said he didn't obey commands to put down what turned out to be an air rifle BB-gun.

Special Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier says the Greene County grand jury opted not to issue any indictments in the case. Assistant prosecutor Stacey DeGraffenreid says the grand jury had access to photographic and video evidence and heard from 18 witnesses.

“I definitely think a thorough investigation was done," DeGraffenreid said following a press conference Wednesday.

Investigators have also released surveillance video from inside the Walmart store the night Crawford was shot, which shows him walking in the pet food aisle and talking on his cellphone when he's approached by police. The surveillance video, which is graphic, is available on WHIO's website.

John Crawford's death has become the object of national attention. He is black and the 9-1-1 caller and shooting officers are white, and national and local organizations have been framing the shooting as an issue of racial justice. Wednesday wrapped up the third day of a three-day protest and teach-in in Xenia, where the Greene County Courthouse is located. Protesters had been calling for the release of the video and for federal involvement.

"It’s clear there is no justice to be found here in Greene County. We are saddened by the decision the grand jury made but not surprised," said James Hayes with the Ohio Student Association.

As of Wednesday, federal investigators have announced they will review the case. The Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, and the FBI say they will look at whether any U.S. law was violated. Crawford family members, as well as Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Governor John Kasich, have all asked for federal involvement.

Wayne Baker and Lewis Wallace contributed reporting.

Jerry Kenney was introduced to WYSO by a friend and within a year of first tuning in became an avid listener and supporter. He began volunteering at the station in 1991 and began hosting Alpha Rhythms in February of 1992. Jerry joined the WYSO staff in 2007 as a host of All Things Considered and soon transitioned into hosting Morning Edition. In addition to now hosting All Things Considered, Jerry is the host and producer of WYSO Weekend, WYSO's weekly news and arts magazine. He has also produced several radio dramas for WYSO in collaboration with local theater companies. Jerry has won several Ohio AP awards as well as an award from PRINDI for his work with the WYSO news department. Jerry says that the best part of his job is being able to talk to people in the community and share their experiences with WYSO listeners.