Authorities in Akron, Ohio, are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the perpetrators of the early Sunday shooting that occurred amid a sizable street celebration and left one man dead and twenty-four injured.
At a press conference on Sunday night, Akron Police Chief Brian Harding stated that police broke up a 200-person birthday celebration after it took over the street and caused complaints at around 10 p.m. on Saturday.
After a while, the party continued, and just after midnight, the police station received calls regarding gunfire at the same address on Kelly Avenue in southeast Akron.
According to Harding, the violence that broke out had the characteristics of a drive-by shooting, with some partygoers exchanging gunfire.
Even though two handguns have been found and investigators think a rifle may have also been used, they are still unsure about the number of shooters or weapons used.
“The scene was littered with spent shell casings, mostly pistol-caliber rounds,” Harding stated.
The deceased was a male who was 27 years old, he said, adding that two other victims are in serious condition and that the injured were mostly in their 30s and ranged in age from 19 to 43.
Numerous patients traveled in private automobiles to the hospitals, according to the police, who reported receiving numerous 911 calls on the shooting. Over the previous few months, the region has seen several shootings, to which police have responded.
Police are requesting information from witnesses as there are currently no suspects in custody and no one related to the incident. Harding claimed that up to 100 people witnessed the events.
“We are imploring the community to come forward with anything that you might know regarding this terrible incident,” Harding stated. “We have concerns about the possibility of retaliation and are taking steps to prevent that, and we need the community’s help.”
Read Also: Arizona Officer Fatally Shot, Colleague Wounded in Indian Community Incident
