Two teenage girls have been found dead in what Akton Police believe may be a murder-suicide. But they’re still trying to understand why.
It was late Saturday night, just after midnight, when gunshots rang out in an Akron neighborhood. One resident, who didn’t want to show her face or give her name out of fear for her safety, says she’ll never forget what she witnessed.
“As soon as we looked out the window, we saw a body lying literally behind my driveway, or across from my driveway, and the paramedics are doing compressions and compressions and compressions,” the resident said.
Then moments later, another body was found in the same area.
“What we found was that there were two young women who had sustained single gunshot wounds,” said Lieutenant Michael Murphy Jr., public information officer for Akron Police.
Akron Police told News 5 the shooting happened around 12:15 a.m. They found the body of one teen near the intersection of Peckham Street and South Hawkins Avenue. About 75 feet away, the second body was discovered in a driveway, both dead on scene.
“Both those individuals were shot in the head. There was a gun that was recovered on the scene,” said Murphy.
The victims have been identified as 18-year-old Kayla Johnson and 17-year-old Janaya Miller. Investigators believe Miller may have shot Johnson, then turned the gun on herself — though the motive remains unclear.
“There was some form of relationship in that they knew each other. There's some familiarity there, and our detectives are really just working to determine what the circumstances are surrounding this incident,” said Murphy.
While gun violence among teens has been an ongoing issue in Akron, police say this case is particularly troubling.
“I think oftentimes people have a very difficult time processing their emotions and the things that they're feeling. There are so many resources that are available to our young people who are going through anything,” said Murphy.
Akron Public Schools confirmed Miller was a current student at North High School, while Johnson had recently graduated. The district released a statement saying:
"The safety and well-being of our students and staff remains our top priority. The APS crisis response team, which includes mental health professionals, counselors, and social workers, has been activated."
Residents say they are heartbroken for the families involved — and are praying they never have to witness something like this again.
“I don't know. I mean, all we can do is pray for a better world. Pray for help, for children that need it, for people that need it, that they know it's available, that they reach out for it. Mental illness is real,” said a resident who lives in the area.
The shooting is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Akron Police.
