‘I was robbed’: Mother of teen slain in Bath mass shooting seeks justice for her son from Airbnb, homeowner—Cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The mother of a teen killed during a mass shooting at an Airbnb party in Bath Township said she wants the property owner and the rental platform to be held accountable for his death.
Just after midnight on Sunday, police say several people opened fire at a home on Top of the Hill Drive, wounding seven people and killing one: Elijah Wells, 18, of Akron.
Wells, who died early Thursday morning, had been shot eight times while walking to the party, his mother, Alicia Wells, said. In the wake of the shooting, Alicia Wells has hired attorney Peter Pattakos, and she is calling for the property owner, Airbnb and the shooters to be held accountable.
“My heart is aching,” Alicia Wells said. “Elijah was our everything. I don’t know what we’re going to do, but I want the people responsible to pay.
Bath Township is one of several municipalities that ban or restrict short-term rentals. Despite the ban, police say the $1.2 million house was available for rent on the platform, and the party was advertised on social media.
. . . This is only one of many times a party at a local Airbnb has ended with gunfire or a police response. In 2017 in Bath, an Airbnb party ended with a person shot in the leg. Other cities, such as Parma, Seven Hills and Cleveland, have also seen Airbnb parties end in a heavy police response.
“It’s a known issue, this trend of mansion parties in short-term rentals and violent criminal conduct or harmful criminal conduct happening at these parties,” Pattakos said. “For Airbnb and similar platforms like that to not take action, it goes to their liability.”
Investigators have asked anyone who attended the party, has video of it, or has information about the suspects to contact the tip line at intel@ohioattorneygeneral.gov or 855-224-6446.