AKRON, Ohio — Akron Mayor Shammas Malik and Police Chief Brian Harding provided an update on investigation into the weekend mass shooting that left one man dead and more than 25 others hurt during a press conference on Wednesday.
The incident happened when gunfire erupted in the area of Kelly Avenue and 8th Avenue shortly after midnight Sunday as a large party was taking place.
Harding announced Wednesday that the number of total gunshot victims from the incident rose from 25 to 27 people, including the fatal victim, identified earlier this week as 27-year-old Lateris Cook of Akron. Two of those injured, a 29-year-old man and a 37-year-old man, are in critical condition. The other injured victims are either in stable condition or have been released from the hospital.
"This event has impacted every single person in our community," Harding added.
According to Harding, investigators have recovered 45 shell casings from the scene from at least five different firearms. Three handguns were taken from the scene, while at least one person at the party fired back. The guns are being processed for DNA, which Harding says will take about a month.
Police did not have any information to share about possible suspects or a suspect vehicle, though Harding did say investigators are following up on every lead. Officials did not want to speculate on a possible motive for the shooting.
Malik said the White House's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs has reached out and offered support to the city. The U.S. Marshals' Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, Summit County Sheriff's Office, ATF, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office are all assisting in the investigation.
"This is an incredibly challenging thing for any community to deal with," Malik said during his remarks. "The folks who live in this neighborhood will be processing this tragedy for weeks, months, and likely years to come."
Malik announced that the community is coming together to help support everyone impacted by the shooting in a pair of events:
- Wednesday night, the Arlington Church of God (539 S. Arlington St.) is hosting a prayer vigil from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, the Burning Bush Church (131 S. High St.) is hosting Greater Akron Prays at 6 p.m.
You can watch Wednesday's press conference in the player below.
DETAILS OF THE SHOOTING
Early Sunday morning, Akron police told 3News their officers responded to the scene shortly after midnight amid several calls of shots fired.
“Shortly after those calls came in, the call center received notifications from local hospitals that multiple persons were arriving in the emergency departments with gunshot wounds,” according to Akron police.
Initial reports from police early Sunday morning said there were 27 total gunshot victims. A statement issued hours later from Mayor Malik and Chief Harding, however, lowered that number to 25. Now, that number is back to 27.
"As the event unfolded, at least one patient self-transported themselves to one hospital first, then left and went to a second hospital," Harding explained Wednesday. "Additionally, at least one person with minor injuries left the hospital as the staff triaged the most critical patients first, then later returned to be treated."
Details surrounding any suspects connected to the shooting are unknown, but authorities are offering a $22,500 reward in their ongoing investigation.
Anybody with information about the shooting is asked to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip. Tips can also be submitted to the Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS.
A GRIEVING FAMILY
3News' Lydia Esparra spoke to the stepmother of Lateris Cook earlier this week. Kalandra McDowell says that Cook was the father of four children, with a baby girl on the way, and that he wasn't even at Sunday's party for more than 45 minutes.
"You can’t fix a broken heart," Kalandra McDowell said of losing her stepson. "You can put a Band-Aid on a lot of things, but you can't put it on a broken heart. That can't be fixed. There's a lot of broken hearts around here right now."
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