Bath Township Airbnb Party Ends in Gunfire, Nine Juveniles Injured
Police in Bath Township are investigating an early-morning shooting on Top O Hill Drive after a large, social-media–promoted party at an Airbnb rental ended in violence.
Officers responded shortly after midnight on Nov. 2, where they discovered multiple gunshots had been fired by an unidentified suspect or suspects. Nine young people were struck, and those responsible fled the scene.
A wide, coordinated emergency response followed. Responding agencies included Akron Police, Summit County Sheriff, Copley Police, Fairlawn Police, Richfield Village Police, along with multiple fire departments from across the region and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
First responders immediately treated the affected persons and transported them to nearby hospitals. Their current conditions have not yet been released.
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik condemned the shooting, calling it a “terrible” act that injured both juveniles and adults. He thanked emergency personnel for their efforts and stressed that violence cannot be tolerated in the community.
Malik also raised concerns about large youth gatherings facilitated through short-term rentals, noting the importance of parents, government, and community organizations working together to protect young people.
Airbnb responded, expressing heartbreak over the shooting. The company noted that unauthorized parties violate platform policies and said it removed the account used to book the property. Airbnb’s law-enforcement response team is now working with Bath Township Police to assist the investigation.
Every child has the right to safety and protection from all forms of violence according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
