Three arrests have now been made in the Bath Township Airbnb shooting that killed 18-year-old Elijah Wells and injured eight others Nov. 2.
Bath Township Police Chief Vito Sinopoli announced the breakthrough Friday, calling it the result of a complex investigation in which technology played a crucial role, along with support from BCI, Akron Police, the U.S. Marshals, and federal partners.
Authorities say 18-year-old Derquan Edwards was arrested in New Philadelphia. A 16-year-old boy was also taken into custody and is being held in the Akron Juvenile Detention Center. The third suspect, 19-year-old Jashawn Stewart, was arrested on Nov. 18 after a vehicle pursuit in which a firearm was recovered; investigators say Stewart is also a subject in two other shooting incidents and another ongoing case in Akron.
All three suspects face charges of murder (the teen faces delinquency to commit murder) and nine counts of felonious assault with firearm specifications, and additional charges are expected. Summit County Prosecutor Elliott Kolkovich said the case will go before a grand jury shortly after Thanksgiving, and the juvenile suspect may be bound over to adult court.
Chief Sinopoli confirmed that everyone wounded in the shooting has now been released from local hospitals, including the last two adult victims who were discharged on Nov. 21. He thanked dispatchers and first responders for their exceptional work that night, noting one dispatcher handled all 14 emergency calls herself during the chaos.
State and federal officials also underscored their commitment to stopping violent crime. ATF officials praised the teamwork among agencies and said violent crime is “not welcome here in northeast Ohio.” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the case sends a clear message: “If you want to do a crime, don’t do it here. We will find you and hold you accountable.”
Sinopoli added that Bath Township is working with Summit County on possible civil and criminal penalties related to short-term rental violations and reviewing zoning language, though he declined to comment on potential charges for the Airbnb owner at this time.
The shooting happened shortly after midnight on Nov. 2 during a birthday party at a short-term rental on Top O’ the Hill Drive. Gunfire erupted on the first floor, hitting a mix of teens and adults before the shooters fled.
Wells, of Akron, was struck multiple times and later died at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. His mother was at the news conference Friday, but did not address the public.
Chief Sinopoli closed his remarks by urging parents to stay engaged with their children’s lives and monitor their social media and friend groups. “The choices young people make, and who they spend time with, can have long-lasting consequences.”
The investigation is ongoing.
