Akron Pays $4.75M to Family of Jazmir Tucker, 15, and Fires Officer in Police Shooting Case

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More than two years after 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker was shot and killed by an Akron police officer, the city has reached a $4.75 million settlement with his family and fired the officer involved . The case — which involved a teenager carrying a loaded weapon, a delayed response to render aid, and body camera violations — has raised urgent questions about police accountability, the cost of misconduct, and the broken trust between law enforcement and communities of color.

The Shooting

On November 7, 2024, Akron Police Officer Davon Fields responded to a call for shots fired near a school . Fields and another officer heard gunshots, spotted 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker, and ran after him before Fields fired multiple times . A gun was found in Tucker’s pocket, which was zipped closed .

A grand jury decided against indicting Fields nearly a year ago . But the body camera footage raised serious questions. According to Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, Fields’s arms and long gun blocked his camera’s view, obscuring Tucker in the moments before he was shot . Another officer’s camera recorded police unzipping Tucker’s jacket and pulling out a handgun .

The Settlement and Termination

The city agreed to settle all claims in exchange for $4.75 million, pending approval by a probate judge . The settlement was reached through a federal mediation process and contains “no admission of wrongdoing,” according to Director of Law Brian Angeloni .

The City of Akron also terminated Officer Fields on Friday, citing multiple policy violations :

Failing to properly provide medical aid — Fields delayed approaching and providing aid to Tucker for nearly eight minutes
Violating the department’s Body Worn Camera policy
Separate criminal allegations that “substantially impair his ability to perform the essential duties of a police officer”

Another officer who was at the scene is facing disciplinary action for a separate body camera policy violation .

What Leaders Are Saying

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik did not mince words:

“The loss of life and the circumstances in this case were absolutely tragic, with enormous human and financial costs. We have a responsibility to make policy changes that reduce the likelihood of cases like this happening in the future. That means continuing to strengthen policies, training, supervision, and accountability across our police department.”

Malik also noted that he could not rely on the draft internal investigation because it “raised concerns about its analysis of the incident and conclusions unsupported by the weight of the evidence” .

But the police union is fighting back. Akron FOP Lodge 7 President Brian Lucey called the firing “unjust” and said Fields is being used as a “political scapegoat” . The union plans to fight the termination and has created a support fund for the fired officer .

The Deeper Problem: Payouts and Accountability

The Tucker case is part of a broader pattern. Cities across the country are paying millions to settle police misconduct cases — and communities of color are bearing the cost.

Oakland: The city reached a $17 million settlement with the family of Lolomanaia “Lolo” Soakai, 27, who was killed by a speeding car fleeing two Oakland police officers during an unauthorized “ghost chase” . The officers never turned on their sirens or lights, watched the crash unfold, and drove away without rendering aid . One officer was recorded saying he hoped the fleeing driver had died .

Burlington, Vermont: The city has settled five police use-of-force cases since 2019, totaling nearly $1.5 million, all involving Black residents or people with mental health challenges . Black residents experience use-of-force at roughly six times their share of the population .

New York City: The city averages $170 million in police settlement spending per year .

As Burlington City Councilor Ali Dieng put it: “Unnecessary use-of-force for those two cases, it was not right and do you see how much it has cost the city.”

The Bottom Line

The Akron case is a tragic reminder of the human and financial costs of police misconduct. A 15-year-old is dead. His family is receiving $4.75 million. The officer who shot him has been fired — but the union is fighting his termination.

For urban communities, the message is clear: Accountability is possible, but it is never guaranteed. And the cost of inaction — measured in lives, trust, and taxpayer dollars — is far greater than the cost of reform.

Sources

Spectrum News: “Akron reaches tentative settlement for death of Jazmir Tucker, dismisses officer” (August 14, 2026)

Police1: “Ohio city fires officer in fatal OIS, pays $4.75M to family” (August 16, 2026)

The Press Democrat: “Oakland to pay $17 million for death of man during alleged ‘ghost chase’” (August 15, 2026)

News From The States: “Payouts soar as use of force by Burlington police on Black residents hits record high” (August 16, 2026)

The People’s Weekly — urban intel from a holistic social approach.

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