Authorities in Akron, Ohio, recovered two handguns and shell casings from a variety of weapons, including assault-style, as the investigation into an overnight shooting that left one dead and 25 injured continued Sunday evening.
In addition to the handguns, evidence suggests the incident involved a drive-by shooting with evidence of returned fire, officials said.
Over 35 shell casings from multiple different weapons were recovered from the scene, with some rounds being from an assault-style weapon, police said Sunday night.
No arrests have been made and there are no suspects in the ongoing investigation, police said. Anyone with information has been asked to contact Akron Police.
Summit County Crimestoppers and the U.S. Marshals Office have offered $12,500 in rewards for information regarding the shooting.
The shooting occurred just after midnight in East Akron, followed by numerous 911 calls from witnesses reporting multiple victims were struck by bullets, according to a joint statement issued Sunday morning by Akron Mayor Shammas Malik and Police Chief Brian Harding, who was sworn in last week to lead the department.
Police investigate a mass shooting that erupted on June 2, 2024, that left one man dead and 24 people injured at a large street party in Akron, Ohio.
ABC News/WEWS
As police officers responded to the scene of the shooting, local hospitals reported multiple people arriving at their respective emergency rooms with gunshot wounds.
One victim, a 27-year-old man, was killed in the mayhem that occurred near the intersection of Kelly and 8th avenues, authorities told Cleveland ABC affiliate WEWS.
Two victims remained in critical condition, authorities said in Sunday’s update.
The victims’ ages range from 19-43 years old, with most individuals being in their 30s, police said.
Police investigate a mass shooting that erupted on June 2, 2024, that left one man dead and 24 people injured at a large street party in Akron, Ohio.
ABC News/WEWS
“This morning, our city is reeling after the devastation of senseless violence,” Malik and Harding said in their joint statement. “With more than two dozen victims, the pain and trauma reverberates across all of Akron today as we search for answers. As with all acts of violence in our city, our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones.”
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No details were available on a motive.
“We will bring those responsible to justice, and we need the help of our community to do that,” the mayor and police chief said. “For those who have information about this horrific shooting — we need you to speak up in order to prevent further violence and retaliation. This can be done anonymously.”
Witnesses told WEWS that multiple rounds of gunfire sent hundreds of people running for cover. One witness, who would only give her first name, Brittney, said the shooting broke out after the street party devolved into numerous street fights.
“There were people on the street fighting; women screaming at their men, like trying to pull them away,” Brittney told WEWS. “But at this point, it got too much out of hand. There were probably 20 to 30 men fighting in the street. So I wasted no time getting through there and out of there.”
Police investigate a mass shooting that erupted on June 2, 2024, that left one man dead and 24 people injured at a large street party in Akron, Ohio.
ABC News/WEWS
Another witness told the station that the street party transformed from a fun event to a chaotic one in seconds.
“Everyone was wearing white T-shirts; there were women on top of vehicles dancing. It looked like a scene from a spring break movie. It looked like everyone was having a good time. On our way back, it was a completely different scene,” the witness said.
At least seven patients with gunshot wounds were admitted to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital, including one in critical condition, hospital officials said. Following the shooting and the influx of patients, the hospital put its emergency room on a “hard lockdown” from just after midnight until 3:30 a.m., hospital spokesperson Joe Milicia told ABC News.
“That’s a common procedure when you have gunshot victims,” Milicia said of the lockdown.
Summa Health in Akron said it treated 15 patients Sunday morning, 13 of whom had non-life-threatening injuries. One person taken to Summa Health remained in critical condition, hospital officials said.
