CLEVELAND — The Akron community is recovering from the horrific mass shooting.

What You Need To Know

  • A mass shooting in Akron left at least 24 injured and one dead

  • Zion Baptist Church will hold a vigil soon 

  • Reverend Ward is praying for the community following the tragedy

In the East Akron neighborhood, several people say they heard the gunshots ring out just after midnight. Community members said there have been a lot of shootings in the area recently. One neighborhood resident said they miss when there was more police presence in the neighborhood.

Nearby, at the Zion Baptist Church, Reverend Mark Ward, pastor at the church, prayed about the tragedy.

“We know of the tragedies all over the city, but here on the East side, we not only pastor here but we live here, and we’re just praying for the community,” Ward said.

The church is less than a mile from the scene of the shooting.

“My heart is heavy and hurting today and we just try to encourage the congregation today not to lose heart,” Ward said.

Ward said they are going to hold a prayer vigil on the church grounds soon.

“We’ll let the community know that we need to come together, and just pray for this tragedy, pray for all the families that are involved,” Ward said.

“I just want to tell the city, let’s pray for one another, because what happened last night here on the east side, it can happen on any side of town, any neighborhood, any ethnicity,” Ward said.