AKRON, OH- A mass shooting at a birthday party, which left one dead and 24 injured, has led the local police to express concern over the potential of retaliatory violence. According to Chief Brian Harding of the Akron Police, the shooting occurred during a large birthday party attended by more than 200 people. After midnight on Sunday, the police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired and multiple victims in a residential area.
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik expressed his shock over the number of victims, stating, “All incidents of gun violence are tragedies, but here the sheer number of victims is shocking and deeply concerning.”
So far, more than 192 mass shootings have occurred in the U.S. this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
The aftermath of the shooting in Akron revealed a scene strewn with spent shell casings covering an entire block. Based on the layout, it seems someone drove by, shooting out of a car, with some individuals at the party returning fire.
Authorities have yet to identify a suspect or vehicle linked to the shooting. However, they have discovered multiple shell casings from various firearms and have retrieved at least two handguns from the scene.
Officials from several agencies are offering a reward of $22,500 for any information leading to the identification and arrest of a suspect. This aim is to prevent further violence from retaliation, a concern that is very real for investigators.