Two suspects are in custody following a deadly home invasion in Akron early Friday morning, thanks to swift action by police and tips from the community.
Douglas Waters, 32, was fatally shot after two men broke into his apartment on the 700 block of Wren Walk around 2:30 a.m.
Akron police say the suspects have been identified as Gerald Wilson, 25, and DeVionne Bigby, 26.
"Investigators determined that the suspects forced their way inside the front door of the residence and, once inside, confronted and shot the victim multiple times before fleeing the scene," Akron Police Captain and Public Information Officer Michael A. Miller said.
Waters was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Despite the late hour, police quickly gathered critical evidence that led to the suspects' arrests.
“Our detectives were very aggressive in the early stages of the investigation,” said Captain Miller. “They had a lot of good things that went and fell in their direction.”
Police utilized descriptions provided by witnesses, as well as surveillance footage from Flock safety cameras, to track the suspects’ vehicle.
A break in the case came because one of the suspects inadvertently shot himself in the foot during the invasion.
“When they located him, they noticed the foot, and they knew right away that was the subject involved,” Miller said.
He was treated at the hospital for his injuries before being arrested.
A phone tip later led police to the second suspect in East Akron, where he was apprehended without incident.
Both Wilson and Bigby are being held in the Summit County Jail on charges of aggravated burglary, murder and felonious assault.
Police have confirmed that at least one of the suspects and the victim knew each other.
Miller says more details will come out as this case moves through the court system and says as they do it will be clear this was "senseless."
