CINCINNATI, Ohio – The U.S. Justice Department is opening an investigation into the fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer outside a Dayton area Wal-Mart after a grand jury failed to hand down a criminal indictment.
The family John Crawford III says it is heartbroken and disgusted by the special grand jury’s decision not to indict police. A statement issued by the family of the 22-year-old says “justice was not done” and relatives want the federal government to investigate whether race was a factor in the shooting.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio and the FBI announced Wednesday that they would conduct an independent review to see if Crawford’ civil rights were violated in the incident.
“The Ohio Attorney General’s Office respects the work completed by the grand jury in Greene County. Now that the state criminal investigation has finished, it is an appropriate time for the United States Department of Justice to look into whether any federal laws were violated during this shooting,” said a statement issued by the office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
“After talking with the Attorney General and watching [security video of the incident] myself, I agree with his decision that a review by the U.S. Department of Justice is appropriate,” said Gov. John Kasich.
A 911 caller reported Crawford was waving what appeared to be a rifle in the store in Beavercreek on Aug. 5. Police said he didn’t obey commands to put down what turned out to be an air rifle.