Mayor, police chief ask for public's help in finding shooters who killed 1, wounded 24 at party

AKRON, Ohio — The mayor and police chief of Akron called on witnesses to come forward with any information about who carried out a mass shooting in the Ohio city that killed one person and injured 24 others, some critically.

“This was a tragic incident which impacts our entire community,” Mayor Shammas Malik said about the shooting that took place just after midnight Sunday. “The sheer number of victims is shocking and disconcerting. 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.”

No arrests were immediately reported.

A 27-year-old man died, Police Chief Brian Harding said. The victim’s identity wasn’t immediately released.

The Akron Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened overnight that left 26 people hurt and one 27-year-old man dead. pic.twitter.com/MHvgQB5NnG

— News 5 Cleveland (@WEWS) June 2, 2024

Those injured ranged in age from 19 to 43, Harding said.

Two agencies — Summit County Crime Stoppers and the U.S. Marshal’s Service — are offering a total of $12,500 in rewards for information leading to the arrests of suspects in connection with the shooting, Malik said.

“We have to hold people accountable when they commit violence. That’s the only way to keep our communities safe,” he said.

Police said the investigation is in its preliminary stages and asked anyone with information to call detectives.

Investigators found two handguns and more than 35 bullet shell casings at the scene of the outdoor party where the shooting took place, Harding said.

Police said multiple victims struck by gunfire were reported. Local hospitals told emergency dispatchers soon afterward that people were arriving in their emergency departments with gunshot wounds.

Capt. Michael Miller, an Akron police public information officer, said Sunday morning that there were 25 total victims, including one person who died. Miller said Sunday afternoon that at least two wounded victims remained in critical condition; others had injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

WEWS-TV reported that a street party was happening in the area before the gunfire broke out, and an unnamed witness at the scene told the station that hundreds of people were enjoying themselves with everyone in white T-shirts and “women on top of vehicles dancing.”