Surveillance video of John Crawford III's last moments inside a Beavercreek, Ohio, Wal-Mart has been released. Crawford can be seen walking into the store, picking up the air rifle and then walking the aisle holding the gun. He never holds the air rifle in a shooting stance, but he can be seen with the gun on his shoulder while he talks on the phone.
In the final moments, Crawford is shown standing in an aisle alone, holding the air gun in his right hand. He doesn't appear to reach toward the shelves or move much at all, for that matter, until police off camera shoot in his direction.
In a new version of the video posted below, the audio from a 911 caller who is near the shooting has been synced to match the footage. The police can be heard yelling something seconds before the first shots are fired. Crawford isn't turned toward police before shots are fired, and the gun is never held in a threatening manner during the entire incident.
It is unclear if Crawford is hit once shots are fired, but he drops the air pistol and scrambles to hide behind another post. When he re-emerges, he is presumably shot again, since, this time, he stops moving.
The release of the video comes after the grand jury decided not to indict any officers involved in the shooting of the 22-year-old. According to witnesses, Crawford was carrying the air rifle, which is similar to a BB gun, that he picked up inside the store. In the video he can be seen holding the rifle at his side and swinging it. On two occasions the gun goes above Crawford's head, but it is never held in a firing position.
For more than a month since the Aug. 5 shooting, Crawford's family and attorney have been fighting for the release of the video footage. When The Root contacted one of the Crawford's family attorneys, we were told that they were advising all media to use their power to get the tape released.
The special prosecutor noted during a press conference in which the surveillance footage was released that the "grand jury considered charges of murder, reckless homicide and negligent homicide," WHIO reports.
According to the news site, the U.S. Justice Department will review the shooting of Crawford inside the store.
Warning: The footage below contains graphic images. It is the actual surveillance footage of the fatal shooting of John Crawford III.