In Bath Township, Ohio, chaos erupted during a birthday celebration when gunfire shattered the peace, filling a large rental property with fear and panic as teenagers scrambled for safety.
Emergency calls from the scene conveyed the sheer terror experienced by those present. “I think he’s dead. There’s blood everywhere!” one frantic caller told a 911 operator, with screams echoing in the background. Another caller urgently reported, “Somebody is hit!”
Desperate for assistance, other callers urged authorities to dispatch help immediately for those injured. “Get an ambulance, please!” one person pleaded, while another described the scene: “The shots were just fired and everyone’s just running and ducking.”
The shooting occurred around 12:15 a.m. on Sunday in Bath Township, roughly 15 miles northwest of Akron.
During a news conference on Monday, Police Chief Vito Sinopoli provided an update, revealing that nine individuals sustained injuries. However, it remains unclear if all were due to gunfire. The victims range from juveniles to adults, with one possibly having injured their leg in a fall.
“This kind of violence is unacceptable in our community,” Sinopoli stated. “We are committed to using all available resources to thoroughly investigate this incident.”
The large home had been rented out on Airbnb, which is not allowed under local zoning ordinances, and most of the people at the party were under 18, according to the police.
Airbnb said in a statement Sunday that it prohibits “unauthorized and disruptive gatherings” and was “heartbroken” by the violence. It has suspended the property listing and removed the account of the person who rented the home.
Sinopoli said the party had been advertised on social media.
“The message I would convey to parents is, be mindful of where your children are,” he said. “If they tell you they’re going to be attending a large party that they saw a social media post about, be wary of that, and I would caution against attending.”
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