Three individuals have been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Elijah Wells during a birthday party at a rented home in Bath Township on November 2. The announcement was made at a press conference attended by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Bath Township Police Chief Vito Sinopoli, Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich, and representatives from the U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Akron Police Department.
“Today’s announcement was made possible by the hard work of investigators who were determined to bring these perpetrators to justice,” said Yost. “Kudos to Chief Sinopoli for his steady leadership throughout the investigation.”
Sinopoli commented on the impact of the incident: “This incident was a tragic and senseless act of violence that left many injured and also resulted in the loss of life. Our thoughts remain with the victims and their families and all who were impacted. We are forever grateful to our partner law enforcement agencies for their tireless work, and to the members of the public who supported us throughout this investigation. Their cooperation and commitment were instrumental in bringing us to this point.”
Elijah Wells was shot eight times at the party and later died from his injuries. Nine other people were wounded during the shooting. Investigators identified suspects through crime-scene analysis, including ballistic evidence, as well as numerous witness interviews. The event was attended by an estimated 250 to 300 people.
The following individuals have been charged in Summit County courts:
– Derquan Edwards, 18: one count of murder and nine counts of felonious assault
– Jashawn Stewart, 19: one count of murder and nine counts of felonious assault
– A 16-year-old male: one count of delinquency to commit murder and nine counts of delinquency to commit felonious assault
Each charge includes a firearm specification. Authorities indicated that additional charges may be filed as the case proceeds. The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office is handling prosecution.
Kolkovich addressed gun violence in his statement: “The loss of Elijah Wells is tragic and senseless, and I want to extend my condolences to his loved ones. I have no tolerance for gun violence in Summit County. We will continue to work with local, state and federal agencies to ensure that anyone who commits a violent crime with a gun will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The investigation is ongoing, and officials encourage anyone with information about the incident to contact BCI at 855-BCI-OHIO.
A recording of this morning’s press conference can be found on the Attorney General’s Facebook page.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in court.
