Misdemeanor charge dismissed against Akron teen who was shot by police officer

A facsimile firearm charge filed against Tavion Koonce-Williams, who was shot by an Akron police officer last month, was dismissed Monday morning pending further investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Summit County prosecutors asked for the case to be dismissed during a preliminary trial hearing. Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Teodosio approved the motion, dismissing the charge without prejudice — which means the charge could be reintroduced depending on the conclusion of the BCI investigation.

“Pursuing charges at this time against Mr. Koonce-Williams could undermine the independence of BCI’s investigation,” Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich said. “Charging decisions should only be made after the completion of a thorough review of the incident by independent investigators.”

Tavion, 15, of Akron, was shot in the wrist by an Akron police officer on April 1 after police received a non-emergency call about a man pointing a gun at homes in the Goodyear Heights neighborhood.

Immediately after being shot, Tavion repeatedly yelled that the gun was a fake before he was arrested. Ryan Westlake, the officer who wounded Tavion, had previously been fired and then rehired by the city after violent incidents both on and off the job. He was fired again by the city on Monday for two unrelated use-of-force incidents.

Tavion is represented by attorney Imokhai Okolo, who has accused the city and police department of pursuing the facsimile firearm charge as a way to avoid civil liability and shield themselves from political backlash.

"The possibility of criminal charges for simply doing what kids do is still looming over his head," Okolo said in a news release issued Monday evening.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Misdemeanor charge dismissed against Akron teen who was shot by police officer