AKRON, Ohio — Akron Mayor Shammas Malik and Police Chief Brian Harding announced the number of injured in Sunday’s shooting, which also killed one, has increased to 27 people.
“We can now confirm that there were 27 individuals that were struck or grazed by gunfire during this incident,” Harding said during a press conference Wednesday.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s office identified the 27-year-old who died as Lateris Cook from Akron earlier this week. Both Harding and Malik offered their condolensces to Cook’s family.
“This event has impacted every single person in our community, and the recovery process is just beginning,” Harding said. “Our detectives have been working tirelessly since the early morning hours of Sunday as they process all the evidence.”
They have collected 45 shell casings from five different weapons at the crime scene. They also recovered three handguns and confirmed that at least one person at the party did fire back at the initial shooter or shooters.
Police do not know if it was a lone initial shooter or multiple people, and they also do not know definitively how many partygoers fired back, Harding said.
He thanked the community for their help, noting they have received a number of tips and calls on the matter. However, they are continuing to ask for information, reiterating the $22,500 in reward money for information that leads to an arrest.
Those with information can call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or can reach out to the Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. They can also text TIPSCO with their tips to 274637.
Harding said they are still processing the body camera footage and will release that when it’s available.
“This is a fluid situation, and we are doing our best to share information as it becomes available,” Harding said.
Malik said the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs reached out to them, offering support after the shooting. He said he’d had several meetings with them discussing the available national and state resources.
He thanked all the federal, state and local officials who had assisted during this time.
“It really does mean a lot to me to see the partnership between local, state and federal officials with regard to this tragedy,” Malik said.
He also discussed the mental health aspect that comes with the recovery from this incident. He referenced various events hosted by area churches as well as the city’s partnership with faith leaders, mental health resource providers and nonprofits for a “community gathering space.”
That will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, at the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation.
“The trauma of last weekend’s incident is impacting all of us in Akron,” he said. “The mental health of our residents, our employees and especially those who were at the party and those who live in the surrounding neighborhoods is absolutely critical in the days, weeks and months ahead.”
Digital Producer Madison MacArthur contributed to this article.