AKRON, Ohio — Officials in Akron held a news conference on Tuesday afternoon to provide updates regarding the investigation into a shooting at a street party that left one person dead and dozens injured.
According to Akron Police Chief Brian Harding, the number of those wounded in the shooting has been changed to 27, including the 27-year-old man who died from his injuries. This echoes the original number police immediately provided on Sunday. That number was later changed to 25 people shot, including the fatality.
Police now say the evolving scene at the shooting and the multiple hospital victims presented problems with the tally of total victims due to people going to one hospital and then leaving and heading to another one. Another person left after being triaged but showed back up later for treatment.
"Our hospitals are rightfully very protective of patient information, so these fluctuations made it difficult to determine the exact number of victims at this incident initially," Harding said. "But we can now confirm there were 27 individuals that were struck or grazed by gunfire during this incident."
Watch the entire news conference:
Two patients, a 29-year-old man and a 37-year-old man, remain in critical condition. The other victims are either in stable condition or were treated and released, the chief said. The youngest victim was 19 years old. Three people in their 20s were hurt, and the vast majority of the victims were in their 30s. Two others were in their 40s.
"My heart goes out to all those who were injured as they begin their journey to recovery," Harding said. "This event has impacted every single person in our community, and the recovery process is just beginning."
According to officials, there is no vehicle description or information on those involved at this time. Authorities said 45 shell casings were recovered from the scene from five different weapons. Three of those weapons were found and have been analyzed for DNA evidence.
So far, the investigation has found that one person at the party fired at a shooter; it's also unknown how many shooters there were or how many other people at the party returned fire.
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said authorities are doing everything they can to bring those responsible to justice and that the city stands behind the victims who will be healing, physically and emotionally, from the senseless act for a long time coming.
"This is an incredibly challenging thing for any community to deal with, and our city government and our whole community has to wrap our arms in compassion and love and support around this neighborhood," Malik said. "The folks who live in this neighborhood will be processing this trauma for weeks, months and likely years to come. They deserve a city government that just doesn't move along to the next thing."
Malik said he and the rest of the city are committed to investing in the neighborhood and working "hand in hand" through this difficult process.
Wednesday night vigil
An uplifting melody brings hope to the Akron community during a dark time.
The message of this song encourages people to hold on, which Pastor Charles Myricks Jr. said is needed most.
“We have many concerns as a community, but we also have an answer that comes in the community in the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” said Myricks Jr. of Arlington Church of God.
Myricks Jr. told News 5 that he opened the doors of Arlington Church of God Wednesday evening to host a community prayer vigil as the first step to healing and restoration in the community.
“We believe that if we can band together and support one another, support our families, support our children that we can help point them to something better,” said Myricks Jr.
Dozens of people spoke including Akron Police Captain Michael Miller, where he recognized there is a lot of work that needs to be done.
“We cannot limit it to cliches and re-inventing the wheel. I’m a product of the benefit of mentoring and the impact mentors had on me. My colleagues on the police department, we share that passion to get into any gaps and seek any opportunities to build bridges,” said Miller.
Others like Akron NAACP President Judi Hill called on the community to prioritize pouring into today’s youth, even after this situation has settled down.
“No more can it just be about us doing a prayer vigil today and then I don’t see any of you anymore until a crisis occurs,” said Hill.
Meanwhile, those like Rev. Jayland Finney of Good Hope Baptist Church shared how mentoring saved his life.
“Wasn’t for the grace and using Pastor Pounds and the Black Church to deliver me from that death stop, that I may be here right now,” said Finney.
Early Wednesday afternoon, Malik said the city’s focus is finding the suspect or suspects involved in shooting 27 people, including the one man who died during the mass shooting.
Malik also said the city is committed to supporting the community.
“The folks who live in this neighborhood will be processing this trauma for weeks months and likely years to come and they deserve a city government that doesn’t just move along to the next thing,” said Malik.
At the same time, Miller said they plan to have more officers in local neighborhoods to limit, reduce and curb gun violence.
Watch the full vigil in the player below:
What happened?
A street party in Akron on Saturday night turned deadly, leaving more than two dozen people injured by gunfire, including a 27-year-old man who is dead and two people who are in critical condition.
Police chief Brian Harding said the shooting appeared to be a drive-by at a birthday party at Kelly and 8th avenues that had spilled into the street.
RELATED: 'It seemed like a war zone': 24 shot, 1 dead in street party shooting in Akron
Around 10 p.m., police said they went to a private residence where the birthday party was occurring. About 200 revelers were present, loud and shooting fireworks, and police asked them to disperse from the street because of motor vehicle traffic.
Between 10 p.m. and midnight, people returned to the party, say police, and a little after midnight, police said they started receiving calls about shots fired.
On Monday morning, authorities identified the 27-year-old fatal shooting victim as Lateris Cook of Akron.
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