Almost exactly a year ago, on 2 June, an unknown suspect opened the fire on a birthday celebration in East Akron, where Lateris Cook was killed and dozens of other people injured.
Although the Akron Police Department has deposited thousands of hours into an investigation, no arrests were made in connection with the mass shooting.
Here are the latest updates about the massive shooting, including the problems detectives have encountered while they try to identify the shooter.
Terri McDowell, mother of lateris Cook, 27, and her wife Kalandra later remind themselves while on 3 June 2024 they are standing in front of his father's house in Akron. Cook was shot and killed during a massive shooting at a birthday party at a birthday party at Kelly Avenue.
What happened on June 2, 2024?
The police responded to 911 calls shortly after midnight after reports from gunshots were fired at a large meeting at Kelly and eighth Avenue.
About two hours before the shooting, Akron officers were sent to the party to spread the crowd of more than 200 people. Some people left, but others came back at midnight shortly before the shooting.
When the police returned to the scene, many people were still there, some of whom had shot down and to be transported to local hospitals. Dozens of Shell -Oomhulsels and two guns were found on Kelly Avenue between the seventh and eighth avenues.
A vehicle, later identified as a white SUV with dark -tinted windows, arrived at the party and the driver opened the fire with people there, the police later established. Party goers shot back on the vehicle, the police believed to accelerate Kelly Avenue after the shooting.
On June 18, 2024, the mayor of the mayor of Akron released this photo of what detectives have identified as a suspicious vehicle that they believe have contributed to the massive shooting at Kelly Avenue on 2 June 2024, so that one person was killed and 27 others. They described it as a white SUV with dark -tinted windows that are assumed to have traveled to Kelly immediately after the shooting to the south.
2 June Mass Shooting Investigation has stalled
After almost a year of investigation, the case was stagnated without arrests, said the main detective in the case, Edward Hornacek of Akron Police Department.
Researchers spent between 2500 and 3000 hours on the business. They repeatedly spoke with 28 of the victims, 19 topics, 26 witnesses, gave two dozen searches and assessed the 10 911 calls, mobile phones and mobile phone images, Hornacek explained.
Akron Police Detective Edward Hornacek speaks on 30 May 2025 about the current investigation into the 2,2024 June, massive shooting on Kelly Avenue who killed a killed and injured 28 others.
Many of those images have been pixed, grainy or too far from the shooting, making it difficult to identify individuals and vehicles, he said.
Bad cameras, which are used to identify vehicles in the city by walking license plates, identified 59 vehicles that were on the party, but Hornacek said there were probably many more. The police were also unable to identify the suspicious vehicles, a Durango-like white SUV and a second unknown vehicle.
They “extensively investigated” nine possible suspects and have limited that to seven, said Horncek, but APD was unable to determine a shooting.
“We need that one proof,” he said. “We must have proof to arrest someone. We can't just have an anonymous tip. We need hard evidence such as a video or witness statement.”
Hornacek was given a special duty to revise all evidence and to view everyone in the business. APD also worked with more than 10 other law enforcement agencies, ranging from public prosecutors to the OHIO Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said David Laughlin, Akron Deputy PolitieChef.
More than 100 people worked on the business at these agencies in the past year, Laughlin explained.
“Everyone pulls together to help each other,” he said.
What evidence can researchers help?
Videos and testimonies of new witnesses would help, said Hornacek and Laughlin. There were many mobile phones at the party that recorded aspects of the shooting.
That “one piece of proof” could be a video in someone's phone. It can identify one or more suspects or show a license plate.
Both Hornacek and Laughlin said that just about everyone has collaborated with the research, but no one has witnessed the shooting.
“They did not danced and noted where the shooting came from, so that is why people don't witness it,” Hornacek explained. “Fireworks went off the night earlier, so some people thought it was fireworks.”
But a year later the study was delayed.
Akron Police Deputy Chief David Laughlin talks about the ongoing investigation in the massive shooting on 2 June on Kelly Avenue who killed a killed and injured 28 others.
“We are frustrated, just like the community,” said Laughlin. “Imagine yourself at a party, engaged to the people there. There is no expectation of gunfire. You just worry about saving yourself. I don't think they deliberately do not share information.”
Researchers are still open to every way of research, including the possibilities that the shooting was gang-related or was connected to a fight at the party.
Laughlin and Hornacek encouraged everyone with information or videos to send tips anonymously to APD. If they are not at ease, they must find someone who trusts that information can send.
“We want justice for the family (Van Cook). We want justice for this community,” said Laughlin.
Thousands of dollars collected for the shooting of victims through Community Fund
Days after the shooting, the city of Akron, the Akron Community Foundation (ACF) and Victim Assistance Program (VAP) worked together to create the Gun Violence Response Response Fund (GVRF), a fund that was originally victims of the mass -shooting party in Kelly Avenue. The fund has since expanded to support the basic costs of every resident of Akron who are the victim of arms violence.
ACF was able to pick up $ 315,000 to support the victims of massive shootings during their fundraising last year. This included $ 150,000 from the city of Akron and each $ 25,000 from the United Way of Summit and Medina County and ACF. To date, $ 165,000 of these funds have been divided over VAP to cover the costs of victims.
“Our community suffers”: Victim Support offers help after Akron Mass Shooting
“The evolution of this fund was a textbook example of what could happen when the government, philanthropy, non -profit organizations and the community come together for a specific goal,” said John Garofalo, vice -president of community investments for ACF.
Thirty -six people received help from the GVRF, 23 of whom were immediately victims of the Kelly Avenue Mass Shooting, said Rebecca Cool, director of services from VAP. Until now, VAP has divided $ 114,000 into victims of rifle.
The majority of funds have been used to support transport needs, such as car issues with which victims of arms violence can continue to work or attend important medical or behavioral health agreements.
Other applications for these funds include housing needs – including rental and mortgage payments – and utility payments.
This financial aid is paid directly to suppliers, which means that no cash assistance is offered to the victim.
Victim Assistance Program President & CEO Leanne Graham, Left, talks to victims of Becky Cool, Cheryl Young, Diane Zedak and Christel Durbec for a prayer vigil for victims of recent mass shooting on Wednesday 5 June 2024, in Akron, Ohio, in Arlington Church of God. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]
“These funds are approved as the last resort, which means that there is no other local source that exists, or that the victim is eligible to meet that need,” said Cool.
The funds are intended for immediate support. While 14 of the victims of the Massch -Schiet party of 2 June Victim Sleverage Assistance registered via the office of the Ohio Attorney General, they were able to use the GVRF for any financial needs pending these extra funds.
Tracy Carter, Summa Health's System Director of Public Affairs and Health Policy and Co-chairman of the Advisory Committee of the arms Violence Response Fund, also praised the cooperation spirit of the community.
“We are blessed to live and work in a community where people don't mind bringing their resources together to help others in need,” Carter said.
Go to www.akroncf.org/gunviolenceresponsefundefund to donate to the fund.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected], or on twitter @athompsonabj. Bryce Buyakie deals with courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by e -mail on [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Bryce_Buyakie.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Mass Shooting a year later investigated
