Search persists for culprits behind Ohio party shooting incident claiming one life and injuring 27 people.
Akron Police Chief Brian Harding spoke at a news conference on Monday, addressing the latest developments in a mass shooting that occurred eight days prior, during which at least 27 people were injured and one was killed. Initially, the victim who had gone to the hospital after the shooting was thought to be a witness, but it was later revealed she had been grazed by a bullet. However, she did not seek medical treatment.
The police are still following up on leads, with Harding stating that there have been "a large number of tips" received by investigators. No specific suspect or information is available at the moment, he added.
The shooting took place at a "large birthday party," where approximately 200 people had gathered. There were originally 25 victims reported, including the 27-year-old man who was killed, identified as LaTeris Cook. Currently, two victims are in critical condition, while the remaining 25 have either been released from medical care or are stable.
The incident is one of 208 mass shootings in the US this year, as per the Gun Violence Archive, which follows a similar definition as CNN: a mass shooting being an event where four or more people are injured, excluding the shooters.
On June 2nd, Akron Police received multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire and numerous victims. They arrived on the scene shortly after midnight, describing the scene as potentially involving someone driving by and shooting from a car. 45 shell casings and at least five different guns were found, with one person believed to have returned fire. Three handguns were recovered at the scene. Multiple agencies, including the ATF and US Marshals, are offering up to $22,500 for information in relation to this case.
Mayor Shammas Malik also made an announcement on Monday, stating that Akron will be creating a gun violence response fund to assist victims of the latest shooting and any future shootings within the city. Malik stressed the issue of gun violence is a significant one, not just in their community but also in many cities across the country.
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The Akron Police are actively pursuing leads in the case, as Chief Harding mentioned there have been numerous tips received. Despite the investigation, no concrete suspect or information is currently available.
In light of the shooting, Mayor Malik announced that Akron will be establishing a gun violence response fund to aid victims and prevent future incidents, acknowledging the pervasive issue of gun violence affecting many cities in the US.
