OHIO — Canton police released body cam video of the shooting that left James Williams dead minutes after midnight on New Year’s Day.
The incident took place just outside Williams’ home on 10th Street SW at around 12:07am Saturday January 1.
Police responded to the home for shots fired and body cam video shows a Canton police officer being confronted by shots fired behind a 6-foot privacy fence just outside the house.
James Williams, 46, was shot multiple times by the officer after firing shots into the air with an AR-15 — in celebration of the New Year.
According to Williams’ wife Marquetta, she joined her husband and other relatives in firing the rifle as did other neighbors. She and the others went back inside while her husband stayed behind to shoot the rifle some more.
Marquetta told News 5 that while she understands firing a weapon in a celebratory manner is illegal in the city, she believes the officer involved should have announced he was outside the family home before firing his gun into the fence.
“You can’t see through this fence, you just took it upon yourself because you see someone shooting in the air, to just decide that you’re going to shoot them. You didn’t even announce yourself, you didn’t say ‘police, put the gun down, freeze,’ or anything, and if he would have, he would have put the gun down. The lack of logic is you didn’t announce yourself, that’s the lack of logic.”
Williams was taken to a nearby Altman Hospital for treatment but later died of his injuries. Besides his wife. he also leaves behind six children.
“It’s senseless, I need justice, I want justice, the officer needs to be charged,” Marquetta said.
According to Canton police, “the officer, in fear for his safety, fired his duty weapon at the subject and struck him.”
Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation has since launched its own investigation into the incident and said the officer, who is on administrative leave, will not be named, as in all cases, while criminal charges are being considered.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and law enforcement training experts expressed sympathy for the family following the release of the body camera video.
But Yost called Williams’ action that night, “stupid and extraordinarily dangerous”.
“When the bullet leaves the gun and goes up into the air, it’s going to hit something. Maybe it’s going to hit a roof or the ground. Maybe it’s going to hit someone in the head and kill somebody,” Yost said.