AKRON, Ohio — A reward of up to $30,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the person (or persons) who fatally beat 17-year-old Ethan Liming in Akron last week.
According to the Akron Police Department, $25,000 of the reward money is being offered by a private donor, with an additional $5,000 offered by Summit County Crimestoppers.
Liming, a rising senior at Firestone Community Center, was found near the basketball courts at the I Promise School on West Market Street at about 10:45 p.m. on June 2.
According to a preliminary investigation by Akron police, Liming was with a group of friends who pulled into the school parking lot. Upon arriving, Liming and his friends became involved in a fight with at least three other males who were already playing basketball at the property. Several of the teens used SplatRBall guns.
During the incident, Liming was knocked unconscious and brutally assaulted.
Following the incident on Thursday night, people who were present at the altercation rushed home and called 911. Officers and EMS arrived within minutes to find the Liming unconscious with severe injuries and he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Investigators do not believe that the attack or homicide was justified or racially motivated.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at (330) 375-2490, the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-4-WANTED, or the Summit County Crimestoppers, Inc. at (330) 434-COPS.
Callers can remain anonymous.
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