NEWS

Man killed in gunfire at Akron North Hill vigil identified; 2 others wounded

Craig Webb
Akron Beacon Journal
Akron Police are investigating a shooting Wednesday evening that left one man dead and two others wounded.

Akron police said one man is dead and two others wounded in a gun battle that erupted Wednesday evening at an apparent vigil in North Hill for a man killed in late May in Cuyahoga Falls.

Authorities said the shooting, which happened about 5:45 p.m. in the 800 block of Wall Street, killed 30-year-old Akron resident Christopher Johnson.

Two others, a 30-year-old male and a 19-year-old male, were wounded and are being treated at Summa Akron City Hospital for what authorities said are non-life-threatening injuries.

As of early Thursday afternoon, no arrests had been announced, with Akron police looking for the shooters.

A significant number of shots were fired, Akron police said. People in the area, most of them nervous and upset, told 911 dispatchers they heard anywhere from 30 to 100 rounds fired. One of the callers said some shots sounded like they came from a machine gun.

Evidence at the scene indicates different caliber guns were used. Police believe at least two people fired at a crowd of more than a dozen people, and apparently at least one person in the crowd returned fire.

Authorities said the gunfire happened after people had gathered for a vigil in the neighborhood. The shooting location is west of North Howard Street and just north of Uhler Avenue in what is primarily a residential area.

Akron police said based on interviews from people at the scene, the vigil was for an Akron man, Giovanni Stanford, who was shot and killed May 26 in Cuyahoga Falls.

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Witnesses told investigators that a suspect or suspects approached the group and opened fire and then ran off to a nearby vehicle and drove away.

Johnson was taken in a private vehicle to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where he was pronounced dead at 6:02 p.m., according to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office. He died from a gunshot wound to the torso, an autopsy Thursday determined.

The second victim, the 30-year-old male, was found at the scene by responding officers, who had to apply a tourniquet until EMS could arrive.

The third victim, the 19-year-old, drove himself to Summa Akron City Hospital.

Authorities said dozens of shell casings were found at the scene and at least one home was hit by gunfire.

Police said they are still investigating a possible motive.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip or contact Summit County Crimestoppers, at 330-434-COPS or by texting TIPSCO with your tips to 274637.