BATH TOWNSHIP — Nine people were injured early Sunday morning when gunfire erupted at a birthday party held at an Airbnb rental property, according to Bath Township police.
Officers responded around midnight Sunday to reports of shots fired at a residence on Top of the Hill Drive. Upon arrival, they encountered what Police Chief Vito Sinopoli described as a chaotic scene, with officers immediately providing life-saving aid to the injured.
The victims, ranging in age from 15 to 20, included both juveniles and adults. They were transported to area hospitals by emergency personnel. Police have not released information about the current conditions of the victims, though one person may have sustained a leg injury from a fall rather than gunfire.
Investigators determined that the party had been advertised on multiple social media platforms, drawing a large crowd of mostly young people to the residence. Unknown suspects fired multiple rounds inside the home before fleeing the scene. Police recovered numerous shell casings from the first floor.
“This kind of violence is unacceptable in our community,” Sinopoli said during a Sunday morning press conference. “We’re committed to applying all available resources to this investigation.”
The response included more than a dozen agencies from across the region. Law enforcement assistance came from Akron, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Copley, Fairlawn and Richfield Village. Fire departments from Richfield, Copley, Fairlawn, Bath, Cuyahoga Falls, Granger Township, Sharon Center, Akron and Norton also responded.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is assisting Bath Township detectives in processing the crime scene, gathering evidence, reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. Most of those witnesses are victims of the shooting.
No arrests have been announced. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the Bath Township Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-666-3736.
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik pledged his city’s support for the investigation and expressed concern about the number of young people at the gathering.
The property had been rented through Airbnb, which violates Bath Township zoning ordinances. Short-term rentals are not illegal in the township but constitute a zoning violation. Police have contacted the property owner about the violation.
Airbnb suspended the listing and permanently removed the account of the person who rented the home. The company said it prohibits unauthorized parties and is cooperating with investigators.
This marks the second shooting at an Airbnb property in Bath Township since 2017, when someone was shot in the leg during an apparent drive-by shooting at a party.
Sinopoli urged parents to be aware of their children’s activities and cautioned against attending large parties advertised on social media.
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