24 people were shot and killed early Sunday morning in Akron, Ohio, during what a police officer said was a big birthday party. The victim was a 27-year-old guy.
A statement from the city’s mayor and police chief says that officers reacted to 911 calls just after midnight reporting shots fired and multiple people hit in the area of Kelly Ave. and 8th Ave.
There were more than 200 people at the “large birthday party” earlier that night, Akron Police Chief Brian Harding said at a news conference on Sunday evening. The shooting happened during the party.
Following the killing, the police chief said they found the area “littered” with empty shell casings that went for a whole block.
“The way the spent shell casings are laid out suggests that someone driving by and shooting out of their car,” Harding said. “Based on what we saw at the scene, we think that some people at the party may have fired back.”
At least two handguns were found at the scene, but Harding said that police also found shell pieces from other types of guns.
The police don’t know if the shooter or the car was hit by gunfire, and the chief said they couldn’t yet describe the suspect or the car.
Officials asked people in the neighborhood who might know something about the shooting to talk to police so they could help find the suspect or suspects.
“We beg everyone in the community to step forward,” Harding said.
“We think there are people in the community tonight who saw or know something,” he said. “All we want is for them to come forward.” “We think that dozens of people were at the party when the shooting happened, and that over 100 people may have seen what happened.”
“Even a small detail can help us solve this case and find the suspect or suspects,” the police chief said.
He said that the government is also worried about possible revenge and is working to stop more violence.
The mass shooting on Sunday is the latest example of a happy gathering in the US that turned violent. Guns have put an end to family reunions, religious events, parties, and even a high school senior’s day off this year.
The Gun Violence Archive lists this as one of more than 192 mass killings that have happened in the US so far in 2024.
Police confirmed that there were 25 people shot, including the person who was killed.
From Sunday evening to Monday morning, Harding said that at least two people were in serious condition. Some of the victims were taken to the hospital and then let go.
The guy who was killed and the people who were hurt have not been named by the police, but Harding said they were between the ages of 19 and 43, with most of them being in their 30s.
“Every act of gun violence is a tragedy, but the sheer number of victims here is shocking and deeply troubling,” Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said at a news conference on Sunday evening.
“This is just the latest in a long line of incidents we’ve seen across the country,” the mayor said. “We know that this country has an epidemic of gun violence.” “The city of Akron and the Akron Police Department will continue to fight all kinds of violence, but especially gun violence.”
He said, “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 also said that anyone who commits violence in response to the shooting would also be held responsible.
Malik wrote on X after the news conference that information that leads to the identification and arrest of a suspect will earn the person a total prize of $22,500.
Officials said again that anyone who comes forward can give information without being identified.
