AKRON, Ohio – One person was injured and another is in custody after what the Akron police said was an accidental discharge of weapons in a university residence on Saturday morning.
The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. the residence of the University of Akron on Exchange Street, according to the authorities.
The two people, who are not college students, were visiting an acquaintance at the residence when the gun was fired, school officials said.
The 19-year-old victim was taken to a local hospital with a bullet wound in her abdomen. said the police.
The 17-year-old suspect was arrested and transferred to the Summit County Juvenile Center and charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, school officials said.
statement:
The University of Akron (UA) is deeply concerned about the community of our campus, and we are constant in our commitment to the safety of our students, employees, visitors and guests.
The preliminary investigation of the University of Akron Police Department on an incident that occurred early this morning shows that two people outside the University of Akron entered the Exchange Hall Residents' Lounge on Friday night or Saturday morning. . Unidentified person (s). During a visit to an acquaintance's room in the residence, what appeared to have been an accidental discharge of a gun, which resulted in a wound in the abdomen of the victim, a 19-year-old from Bedford, Ohio. He was transferred to Akron General Cleveland Clinic Hospital where he received treatment for his injury.
No one else was injured.
The suspect, a 17-year-old man, also from Bedford. He was arrested and transferred to the Summit County Youth Center. He has been accused of illegal discharge of a firearm. Both the police investigation and the University's review of the incident are ongoing.
UA prohibits firearms in student residences and requires that resident students take responsibility for the actions of the guests. This incident underscores the importance of this policy.
We understand that this situation was very worrying for many people and the university representatives of the Division of Student Affairs and Residency Life and Housing have been on the scene and providing support to other UA students. They will also discuss campus safety and additional ways to improve our efforts with the students in the next few days.
We appreciate the cooperation of all parties, since the officials of the University and the Police Department of the University of Akron (UAPD) continue the investigation. As a community, we also encourage students to remain diligent advocates of safety. If you have information that can help investigators, notify UAPD at 330-972-2911.
Counselors will be available for students by calling 330-972-7082 or visiting Simmons Hall 306 on Monday. Students seeking immediate assistance should contact the Residence Life staff who will connect them with the counselor on duty.
Editor's note: The UA statement was modified to remove the name of the victim.
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