AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Akron’s mayor and police chief have appealed for witnesses to come forward with information about a mass shooting in the Ohio city that left one person dead and 24 others injured, some seriously.
“This was a tragic incident that affected our entire community,” said Mayor Shammas Malik. “The sheer number of victims is shocking and disturbing. I want to be very clear: everyone involved in last night’s shooting will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
A 27-year-old man, whose identity was not immediately released, was killed in the shooting early Sunday. The injured ranged in age from 19 to 43, Police Chief Brian Harding said.
There were 25 victims, including the deceased man, and at least two injured people were in critical condition. Others had non-life-threatening injuries, Akron police Captain Michael Miller said Sunday.
No arrests were initially reported and police asked anyone with information to call Criminal Investigation.
Three agencies are offering rewards totaling $22,500 for information leading to the arrest of a suspect: $5,000 from Summit County Crime Stoppers, $7,500 from the U.S. Marshal’s Service and up to $10,000 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Akron officials said.
“We must hold people accountable when they commit acts of violence. This is the only way we can ensure the safety of our communities,” Malik said.
At the scene of the outdoor party where the shooting occurred, investigators found two handguns and more than 35 bullet casings, Harding said.
Local hospitals informed the emergency dispatch center shortly thereafter that several victims with gunshot wounds had been admitted to their emergency rooms, police said.
Before the shooting, there had been a street party in the area. An anonymous witness at the scene said that hundreds of people were having fun. Everyone was wearing white T-shirts and “women were dancing on the roofs of cars,” WEWS-TV reported.
The Associated Press
