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Family attorney disputes reports in Beavercreek Walmart shooting


Sept. 27, 2014

Attorney Michael Wright - who represents the family of John Crawford III - issued a statement Saturday evening about documents released Friday in the fatal shooting inside a Walmart store.

Beavercreek police officer Sean Williams stated he shot the 22-year-old Fairfield man twice after he failed to comply with repeated commands to drop his weapon and get on the ground. Instead, Crawford reportedly turned toward police in an "aggressive manner," according to official statements made by Williams after the fatal Aug. 5 shooting at the Beavercreek store.

Wright disputes Williams' statement, specifically that Crawford acted aggressively toard police. The attorney said surveillance video contradicts Williams' account, as well as the officer's statements that he felt his life, the life of another officer and the lives of others in the store were in immediate danger.

"It is difficult to understand how Officer Williams believed anyone was in immediate danger as Mr. Crawford was standing in the aisle alone and talking on his cellphone. ... (Crawford) is dead and no one is being held accountable, this is not just!" Wright stated.

"Again, the Crawford family is very disappointed that Officer Sean Williams was not indicted for the unlawful killing of John Crawford III."

Sept. 26, 2014

Beavercreek police officer Sean Williams shot John Crawford III twice after he failed to comply with repeated commands to drop his weapon and get on the ground, and instead turned toward police in an "aggressive manner," according to official statements made by Williams after the fatal Aug. 5 Walmart shooting, which our newsroom obtained Friday from a public records request.

Sgt. David M. Darkow, in his official account of the shooting, said he and Williams yelled for Crawford to drop the weapon and get on the ground, but Crawford just "looked in our direction" while holding the rifle and then made a quick movement, at which time Williams shot him.

Williams was not one of the officers dispatched to the store, Crawford's friend said he smelled like marijuana that day, a witness heard police tell Crawford to drop the gun and police detectives contend they could not tell from a visual inspection of the air rifle Crawford was carrying that it was not a real firearm.

However, a Walmart employee said he saw Crawford carrying the air rifle, and though it looked like a fake assault weapon, and he tried to report this to another department, fearing panic could ensure, a witness statement shows. The employee said about 10 minutes later he heard the gunshots.

Williams wrote that Darkow "repeatedly yelled, 'Drop the weapon!'" but Crawford "turned towards us in an aggressive manner with the rifle in hand."

Another shopper, Angela Williams, suffered a fatal heart attack while running from the commotion once officers opened fire.

Walmart surveillance video of the shooting was released Wednesday at a news conference by special prosecutor Mark Piepmeier. A special grand jury decided not to hand up indictments in the case.

Videos released

Walmart surveillance video of the actual shooting was released Wednesday at a news conference by special prosecuter Mark Piepmeier. A special grand jury's decided not to hand down indictments in the case.

WATCH THE VIDEO (Warning: this video contains content that some may find graphic and not appropriate for all ages.)

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