The case on the Beavercreek Ohio Wal-Mart shooting incident has finally come to an end, but many are questioning the decision of the special grand jury, WHIO has learned.
In the wake of the Beavercreek Ohio shooting at a Wal-Mart store that led to the death of 22-year-old John Crawford III last month, a grand jury has found the actions of the officers' involved justifiable.
The Greene County jury in Xenia reportedly opted not to issue indictments in the Aug. 5 incident, Special Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier confirmed to reporters.
The attorney of John Crawford III's family, Michael Wright, said that he couldn't believe the turnout of the case following the jury's announcement.
"He was murdered," Wright said. "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."
Wright also conveyed the disappointment of the Beavercreek Ohip shooting victim's family over the jury's decision.
"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," he said. "Rather than advocate for the constitutional rights of John Crawford lll and Angela Williams, the other victim in this case, A.G. DeWine and Mr. Piepmeier made excuses for the officer's actions and have erroneously argued the officer's actions were 'reasonable.'"
In light of the announcement, the U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to conduct a "thorough and independent review" on the Beavercreek Ohio shooting at Wal-Mart, reported Dispatch.com.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, and the FBI will be conducting the said the "thorough and independent review of the evidence and take appropriate action if the evidence indicates a prosecutable violation of federal criminal civil rights statutes."
On the other hand, the attorney for the embattled officers, Vince Pope, said that the no indictment decision was actually the right thing to do.
"I believe the grand jury's decision, it's absolutely the right decision, that the officers acted well within their training," Pope said.
Meanwhile, Gov. John Kasich opined that the U.S. Department of Justice's move to conduct a separate investigation is "appropriate."
"After talking with the Attorney General and watching the video myself, I agree with his decision that a review by the U.S. Department of Justice is appropriate," Kasich said.
"This is a tragedy for the Crawford family and I share the concern of many in the community that this matter must be handled with the utmost seriousness and respect," he added. "I've consulted with local leaders, including leaders in the African American community, and I applaud the example they have set of calm, restraint and patience."
Previous reports stated that Crawford appeared to be waving a rifle in a Wal-Mart store in Aug. 5. He was shot after failing to comply to police orders that he should put down the air rifle.
The Crawfords, on the contrary, insist that the 22-year-old had taken the firearm off a store shelf. A surveillance footage on the incident shows Crawford was actually on his phone while he was holding the rifle.
Crawford's family has since asked for state investigators to release the surveillance footage publicly, but state Attorney General Mike DeWine claimed that the video should not be released since it could compromise the investigation and taint a potential jury pool, according to Cleveland.com.
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