A mass shooting in Akron has claimed the life of 1 and 24 people has been confirmed injured. Police are searching for the suspect at the birthday party in Akron, Ohio, over the weekend and are offering a $22,500 reward as they try to piece together what happened. Officers responded to 911 calls shortly after midnight Sunday, reporting shots fired and multiple victims struck in a residential area, according to a statement from the city’s mayor and police chief.
Witnesses speak with media
A neighbor’s doorbell camera and witness accounts have detailed the chaotic scene when shots rang out at an outdoor party that had been broken up by police earlier on Saturday night.
“Our city is reeling after the devastation of senseless violence,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik and Police Chief Brian Harding in a joint statement on Sunday. “With more than two dozen victims, the pain and trauma reverberates across all of Akron today as we search for answers.”
Victims
In total, there were 25 gunshot victims, including the person who was killed, police confirmed. At least two people were in critical condition Sunday evening, Harding said. Some of the victims were treated at a hospital and released. Authorities have not released any identifying information about the man who was killed, nor about the wounded victims, but Harding said they ranged from 19 to 43 years old, with most being in their 30s.
“We know that this country has a gun violence epidemic, and that this is the latest in a long line of incidents we’ve seen across the nation,” Malik said. “The city of Akron and our Akron Police Department remain committed to fighting all violence, especially gun violence.” “I want to be very clear, anyone who was involved in last night’s shooting will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” he said, and also warned that anyone who perpetrates retaliatory violence will be held accountable.
According to officer Harding, here’s what unfolded:
Police broke up a large birthday celebration in Akron around 10 p.m. Saturday night. Harding said there were fireworks and “loud noises.” Over 200 people attended the party and “had taken over the street.” The party got started again sometime after the police left. After midnight, police began receiving reports of gunshots coming from the same location.
“The scene was littered with spent shell cases,” said Harding at a news conference. “Mostly pistol caliber rounds.” According to Harding, the way the shell cases were laid out on the scene is “consistent with someone driving by shooting out of a car.”
Police also believe people who attended the party may have shot back at the suspect, but officers don’t know if the shooter or their vehicle was hit. Investigators do not know how many shooters there were, but believe a rifle was used. Police have also recovered two handguns.
