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A man is dead and more than 20 people were injured early Sunday in a shooting at a large birthday party in a neighborhood in Akron, Ohio, according to police.
Detectives believe that someone in a vehicle opened fire on partygoers just after midnight and that someone at the event may have returned fire, Police Chief Brian Harding said.
“Shortly after those calls came in, the call center received notifications from local hospitals that multiple persons were arriving in the emergency departments with gunshot wounds,” the police department said in a statement.
At least 25 people were shot, including a 27-year-old man who has since died. Two handguns and “several dozen casings” were recovered, police said.
Police previously said gunfire struck 27 people, including the deceased victim, but some victims may have been counted twice, Harding said.
Harding said at a news conference Sunday evening that at least two of those hospitalized were in critical condition, with multiple others admitted for treatment for injuries and some treated and released.
The victims are 19 to 43 years old, most in their 30s, he said.
No suspects were in custody, and a motive wasn’t immediately clear.
Police first responded to the residence where the party was taking place about 10 p.m. Saturday after they received reports of crowd noise and firecrackers, Harding said.
About 200 people there were ordered to disperse, he said. But by midnight, he said, “the party resumed.”
Shortly afterward, police returned to the home, about 40 miles south of Cleveland, for reports of shots fired.
After the dust settled, it was clear many rounds had been fired, many from a vehicle, Harding said. “The scene was littered with spent shell casings,” he said.
“There were several firearms that were used,” Harding said. “One of them appears to be a rifle.”
It wasn’t clear whether gunfire struck anyone in the vehicle believed to be involved in the attack, he said.
Police hope security video from the area and witnesses who were at the party might help them zero in on a suspect.
A $12,500 reward, including money pledged by the U.S. Marshals Service and a local Crime Stoppers organization, is being offered for information leading to an arrest and a conviction.
“We are imploring the community to come forward,” Harding said.
Callers who contact police with information can remain anonymous, police said.
In a joint statement, Harding and Mayor Shammas Malik said the city “is reeling after the devastation of senseless violence.”
“For those who have information about this horrific shooting — we need you to speak up in order to prevent further violence and retaliation,” the statement read.
Karen Cortes contributed.
