Akron police are investigating a shooting that left an 18-year-old dead and two other teens injured Saturday night during what police believe was a Halloween party.
Around 10:46 p.m., police responded to a home in the 100 block of Paris Avenue and located Lashae Ellis, who was severely injured with a gunshot wound, police said.
Officers also located a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl who had also been shot. Both had non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the two ran away from the home after being shot.
All three teens were transported to a nearby hospital, where Ellis was later pronounced dead, police said. The other two are expected to recover from their injuries.
Police said during a Halloween party, an unknown man pulled out a handgun and fired shots inside the house, striking the victims.
"We're told that, you know, a group of people came into the party in a very short time after at least one of those persons pulled out a gun and started shooting. It is not clear if that victim (Ellis) was the intended target. There is a belief that she was not," said Captain Michael Miller with Akron police.
Miller said they believe the house was possibly used as a short-term rental property. The shooting is under investigation as police continue to search for partygoers who might have answers.
"We'd ask as we frequently do, the folks in particular who were at the party to examine their hearts and decide if there's anything they're willing to share with us that might bring this investigation forward," said Miller.
Officers detained an 18-year-old man after a brief foot chase and recovered a handgun that he tossed while fleeing, police said. However, it is unknown what role, if any, he played in the shooting. He was booked in the Summit County Jail and has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon and obstructing official business.
