No indictment for Akron officers involved in shooting death of 54-year-old man last August

“I again wish to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Jones as they grieve his passing – I want to acknowledge that there are loved ones in our community grappling with a tragedy. I want to thank the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) for investigating this case and the Ohio Attorney General’s office for presenting it to the grand jury. I also want to thank the members of the Summit County grand jury for performing their civic duty.

It's important to recognize that today's decision was the result of an external, independent investigation being presented to a jury of Summit County residents. For many years, there have been calls for an independent process for investigations of officer involved shootings and we have used this independent process since 2022.

With this portion of the process ending, the Attorney General’s investigative file will be released to the public and will be available shortly on the Attorney General’s website here.

The Akron Police Department will now conduct a thorough internal investigation into this incident to determine if any policies or procedures were violated. Today’s decision indicates that a local grand jury of our fellow residents, presented with the evidence, determined that our officers’ conduct in this situation did not constitute criminal behavior. The job of an officer is not easy, and it is one that comes with scrutiny, especially in situations involving fatal use of force. I want to thank our officers in the Akron Police Department for the work they do every single day in our city.”

I am deeply disturbed by the Summit County grand jury’s decision to issue a ‘no bill’ in the killing of Michael Jones. While I wish I could say I am surprised, this follows the same painful playbook that the family of Jaland Walker had to endure.

The Jones family now faces the next chapter in this long, exhausting fight, a civil lawsuit, much like the Walker family. Michael Jones never brandished a weapon. The firearm was later found in the back after he was shot and killed, reportedly taken from his pocket and placed on the front seat. This process reopens wounds for the family every single day. The trauma of losing a loved one in such a violent and public way is devastating, and it is made worse when justice feels out of reach. My hope is that the civil suit will bring forth the full truth and provide some measure of justice for the Jones family.

To Mr. Mike Jones Children & family, I want to express, on behalf of our community, both my heartfelt sorrow and solidarity. Your pain is real, and no official conclusion can erase the trauma you endure each waking moment. Seeing the last moments of a loved one replayed through video footage, whether viewed privately or by the public, can inflict a renewed and lasting emotional wound. Grief compounded by uncertainty can feel like an endless struggle. The Jones family have to grapple with questions no one should face; ‘Why did this happen? Why wasn’t he given the chance to explain? Why did it end in such finality?’ Their anguish is unimaginable.

Our community must not let bureaucratic findings mute the distress felt by a grieving family. Our responsibility is to ensure that healing, not just investigation, remains integral to our collective response. That starts with empathy but must also include tangible steps toward accountability, transparency, and meaningful reform.

I call on our Police Department, Office of Professional Standards, Independent Police Auditor’s office, and all relevant entities still engaged in this case to the highest standards of openness, especially with the family. Let us ensure they feel heard, supported, and seen, not just as a symbol, but as fellow Akronites whose humanity calls us to act with compassion.