PORTAGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

DAVID W. DOAK, SHERIFF

Portage County Sheriff’s Deputies on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 2:34 A.M. were dispatched to the area of 1935 S.R 59, Franklin Township for a report of multiple gunshots and people screaming and running from the ARIZE ENTERTAINMENT and EVENT VENUE. Deputies arrived and observed people in the parking lot and vehicles leaving the area. Witnesses described a gray Chevrolet Malibu which left the parking lot traveling east towards Ravenna with a male subject shooting out of the vehicle.

Kent City Police located the Chevrolet Malibu in their city and after having contact with the three individuals, (juveniles) in the vehicle it was determined that they just left an after-prom party for students at Akron Buchtel High School, being held at the ARIZE. Inside the vehicle officers located both a .25 Caliber and 9mm handguns. While doing a crime scene search, deputies recovered from the parking lot (4) 9 mm bullet casings, (4) .25 caliber casings, (8) .40 caliber, (3) .45 Caliber casings and (1) live .45 Caliber round. Sheriff Deputies, after checking all hospitals in Akron and Portage County were unable to locate any gunshot victims.

Deputies were called to a local restaurant later in the morning where it was reported that a bullet caused damage to their building.

Evidence collected at the scene is being sent to Ohio BCI Crime Lab for testing and charges at this time are pending.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident and can identify the shooters are asked to contact the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at 330-296-5100.

By the authority of Sheriff David W. Doak