In the hours following Monday's news that a grand jury had decided not to indict officers in last year's Akron police shooting of Jayland Walker, cars began descending on Wilbeth Road, the site of a memorial for Walker marking the approximate location of his death.

They were caravanning to the area from a gathering at St. Ashworth Temple Church of God in Christ on Vernon Odom Boulevard.

By nightfall, the street in front of the Bridgestone complex was blocked to traffic in both directions, with cars lining the road from Dallas Avenue almost all the way to South Main Street.

Music blasted from vehicles, occasionally drowned out by a cacophony of car horns. Many attendees loudly expressed their hatred of the police.

Eight Akron officers fatally shot Walker 46 times on June 27 after he led them on a crosstown car chase, during which police say the 25-year-old Black man fired a single shot from his vehicle. Walker was unarmed and running in a ski mask when he was shot after a short foot chase near Wilbeth and South Main. A handgun was found in his vehicle, police said.

Before the caravan of protesters arrived Monday, a number of demonstrators had already gathered on the sidewalk outside the Bridgestone building, eliciting supportive honks from passing cars.

Akron residents communicate disgust and fear after grand jury decision

On the sidewalk, Toni Weems, bundled against the cold, recounted her astonishment at what she views as an unjust decision by the grand jury.

"I just stood there, thinking, 'Really? Out of 46 shots, it's OK?' It doesn't make sense. How can an officer shoot somebody when they're just running away?" said Weems.

Weems would like to see the police department change how officers address situations and people.

"They kind of intimidate people to make things happen, if you ask me. But if they can approach a person with a little more humanity — I mean this is a person; yeah, he may have done wrong, but try to see how he can fix that and do better," she said. Additionally, she believes a change in the laws governing police conduct is warranted.

While Weems hopes protests in the city remain peaceful, she had little hope that it would make a difference if they do.

"Anything that we try to do — peaceful protest, talking to the councilmen and everything — nothing seems to change. Nothing," she said. Her prayers, she added, were with the Walker family.

Josh Sloan said he was shocked but unsurprised at the grand jury's decision.

"We've seen it over and over again," said Sloan. "It happens so often that there's no punishment, no penalty, and then it happens in another town."

The officers involved in the shooting should have been taken off the force following Walker's death, he said, and charged with manslaughter or murder.

In the coming days, Sloan said, he hopes he sees enough action by the community to force a change.

"Change means whatever it takes to stop police violence," said Sloan. "I'm upset, overwhelmed — there's definitely a lot of sadness." While he acknowledges the situation doesn't directly affect him, he still feels for his community that is now expressing its grief and anger.

"If I don't care, that's selfish," Sloan said.

Protesters also walked or drove vehicles elsewhere in downtown Akron and the Highland Square neighborhood, prompting the police department to close Main Street in both directions between Mill and State streets and urge people to avoid the area.

Reyna Lesley, who was among the protesters near the Bridgestone complex, said she was disgusted by the news that the officers were not charged by the grand jury, and frightened by it. In her opinion the grand jury let the officers get away with murder.

"Now everybody is going to be afraid for their lives," said Lesley.

She hopes the community will remain steadfast.

"We can't just let this go or it's going to keep happening," Lesley said.

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Protesters gather at site of Akron police shooting of Jayland Walker