AKRON, Ohio — Gunfire erupted near a field as kids were playing pee-wee football Sunday afternoon, leaving two people shot, including a 7-year-old who was hit in the chest.
The shooting happened at Akron's Lane Field at around 4 p.m. as the area was crowded with kids and parents. The 7-year-old, Tyren Thompson, had just finished playing his football game when he was shot near the playground at the field.
Residents nearby are fed up with the violence. The police chief is calling on the community to provide answers and come together now.
"We need police down at Lane Field,” stated a caller in one of many 911 calls that came flooding into Akron’s dispatch center. “They're shooting down here. I think somebody got shot."
Witnesses saw a 19-year-old man get shot in the hip and Tyren — a second grader — got shot in the chest.
"It's a kid's game. It's a juvenile's game. They're carrying the little kid. They're running with him,” a 911 caller said.
As police raced to the scene, the boy was taken to a hospital, and the person who fired the shots ran away. An officer can be heard on body camera footage talking to a witness who said the shooting happened near the jungle gym.
On Aug. 21, the community held a prayer circle of more than 100 parents, children and city leaders at Lane Field, demanding the City of Akron take more steps to improve city park security.
Akron Ward 3 Councilwoman Margo Sommerville told News 5 the city will take greater safety measures, starting with increased security requirements for pee-wee football programs and a reassessment of park security protocol.
“If there is a team that wants to play on a city field, we’re going to require that there must be a police presence in order for you to get your permit to play," Sommerville said. “We’ve got to look our fields, we’ve got cameras, we got to make sure are the cameras operable, are they working. When things happen, can we go back and pull footage and find out who is the individuals who are creating these crimes."
Police say the boy underwent surgery and will need more surgeries. He was in critical condition at Akron Children's Hospital as of Monday evening.“
The results are a 7-year-old is fighting for his life in the hospital," Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett said. Mylett visited the hospital and prayed with the family Sunday night.
“To see that little boy in that big bed with the trauma that was done to his being — it's just, we use words, it's unacceptable. It is unacceptable," Mylett said.
Adding to the outrage is the fact that witnesses told police that another child, between the ages of 11 and 15, appeared to be the shooter.
Police are trying to figure out if there was a second shooter. So far, no one has been charged.
“We have some good witnesses that gave us good information,” Mylett said. “We're following leads. I don't want to get into that aspect."
Ashley York said her 13-year-old son went to the field to watch pee-wee football games, heard the gunfire and ran home.
“He actually told me about a 7-year-old getting shot, and he said that somebody was shooting at a football game,” York said.
Crystal Williams is part of a different pee-wee football league that also plays at Lane Field. She said the community needs to take action to keep kids safe.
“We need to bridge that gap. If we don't stand up now for our kids, who knows what's gonna happen next?” Williams said.
Following the terrifying shooting, Mylett is calling on community and faith-based leaders, as well as parents, to come together.
“We're fighting for the safety and well-being, the physical safety of our children. Parents need to know what their children are doing,” he said.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan issued the following statement regarding the gun violence on Monday:
“We are heartbroken and outraged by the gun violence incident yesterday at Lane Field which has left a 7-year-old child in serious condition, as well as a 19-year-old with injuries. Enough is enough. This cannot be considered normal, and we cannot be complacent as a community with this type of behavior. Thoughts and prayers won't end the violence. It will be the actions of our residents, parents, coaches, teachers, elected officials, pastors, and beyond all working together that makes the difference. Our youth need to understand that there are consequences to their actions and sometimes those consequences impact people they had no intention of involving. A 7-year-old innocent child is in the hospital when they should be getting ready to go back to school. We need our community to come together. If you know something, say something.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip. Citizens may also provide anonymous information to Summit County Crime Stoppers by calling 330-434-COPS or text TIPSCO with your tips to 274637.
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