Speaker criticizes Akron Police Department after fatal Feb. 17 shooting of Marcus Leonard Smith

A speaker in the public-comment period condemned the Akron Police Department’s actions and called for accountability after the Feb. 17 fatal shooting of Marcus Leonard Smith.

“They shot another black man ... Marcus Leonard Smith, who was shot on February 17 at the age of 40, the PD took his life in Summit Lake near Ira Avenue before 9AM,” said Janos during the meeting’s public-comment period. Janos said Smith was accused of stealing a car and a gun and urged council to consider Smith’s life beyond those allegations.

Janos recounted Smith’s studies and employment, saying he “was studying for his PhD in sociology and taught at the University of Cincinnati.” The commenter framed the shooting as part of a pattern of police violence and said the community will continue to press elected officials and council members for change.

Nut graf: The comments were delivered during the public-comment portion of the council meeting, where residents may address council but no formal action on the shooting was taken at this meeting. The transcript records Janos’s criticism and calls for political accountability but does not show council members proposing specific measures or votes in response.

Context and claims: Janos named other recent killings and said local officials who have not acted “will be voted out.” The speaker expressed personal experience with mental-health struggles and contrasted surviving their own struggles with what they described as the city treating Black lives as expendable. The speaker’s statements are localized allegations and calls for accountability; the council record shows only that the comments were heard during the public-comment period.

Ending: The public-comment period concluded after Janos’s remarks and the meeting proceeded to the consent agenda. The council did not discuss or vote on any policing measures during this session according to the transcript.