DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Dozens of people gathered at Courthouse Square Saturday as part of a rally for justice in the John Crawford III case. The rally–organized by three college students–comes less than a week before the two-year anniversary of Crawford’s death.

Many of the people we spoke with say they came out because they we want to see John Crawford III get the justice he deserves.

“I like to take action and get things done so I can’t sit around,” Keila Hall said. “That’s why we have these events.”

Hall says she’s calling for change in the John Crawford III case.

Crawford was shot and killed by a Beavercreek Police officer inside the Beavercreek Walmart in August 2014 after picking up a BB gun off the shelf. Police say he refused to drop it.

 “If our justice system sees that there citizens care about this and that we feel that it’s an issue,” Hall said. “Then they will take care of it the right way. That’s what we’re trying to get. We don’t want it to get swept under the rug.”
Hall says she wants the U.S. Department of Justice to act on it’s investigation into the the death of John Crawford III. And she’s not alone.
“With the trials not leading to justice,” Chris Landrum said. It’s just a back and forth thing that’s come up. We are really trying to push for this to go to trial and get the justice that we deserve.”
Currently, Crawford’s death is the subject of two separate cases–one civil–the other involving the investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Two years after his death, neither cases  have been resolved. That’s why Beavercreek resident Lynn Buffington is taking action.
“As a person who lives in Beavercreek where John Crawford was shot and killed by a Beavercreek Police officer,” Buffington said. “I feel a special duty to stand up for justice for John Crawford.”
Buffington says she’s frustrated with the Justice Department’s  handling of the investigation.
“This is two years without justice for John Crawford,” Buffington said. “The Department of Justice says they’re still investigating after two years, but they have no statements about when they are going to finish.”
U.S. Department of Justice has declined to comment on this case, citing the on-going investigation.