Warren officer cleared in Risher Road shooting

WARREN

A Trumbull County grand jury has concluded that Warren Patrolman Michael Krafcik did nothing illegal the night he shot Taemarr Walker to death on Risher Road Southwest Oct. 19.

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins released a statement Thursday saying Krafcik was cleared, but the woman in the car with Walker is being charged with involuntary manslaughter and a firearms offense for her role in Walker’s death.

Watkins said the investigation carried out by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation showed that Krafcik’s actions were “a textbook example of self-defense by an officer responding to an armed criminal who brazenly failed to comply with the simple command of placing his hands up and not to move.”

Walker, 24, of Kenwood Drive Southwest, was shot to death in the 1:18 a.m. confrontation with Krafcik after the car Walker was driving crashed into a ditch on Risher.

Krafcik was on Risher because another car was in the ditch on the opposite side of the road, and Krafcik had responded while a tow truck driver attempted to remove the abandoned vehicle.

Walker, who was with Regan Jelks, 21, of Woodbine Avenue, had apparently gone into the ditch trying to avoid the tow truck.

Krafcik observed Walker move from the driver’s seat of the car to the back seat, where Krafcik saw a .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle, according to the statement.

Krafcik drew his service revolver and demanded that Walker show his hands, which he initially did. But then Walker kicked the passenger door in an attempt to get out. Krafcik kept him inside by leaning against the door.

“Walker then lunged from the backseat to the front seat and reached under the driver’s seat,” the statement says. “The officer continued to warn him to remain still and show his hands.

“Walker then pulled out a handgun from underneath the driver’s side seat while his feet were still in the backseat portion of the vehicle. Officer Krafcik, who had moved from the rear passenger window to the front passenger window immediately shot into the car striking Walker,” the statement continues.

Walker still had the gun in his hands after that, and Krafcik fired four more times.

Walker had alcohol and a variety of drugs in his system, and the rifle had 27 rounds of ammunition in it, though the handgun was empty.

Jelks was arrested in Detroit and will be returned to Warren to face charges as soon as possible, the statement said. If convicted, she could get more than 10 years in prison.

Thomas Conley, president of the Greater Warren Youngstown Urban League, after reading Watkins’ 8-page statement, said it appeared that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation had conducted a thorough investigation.