Ohio State police are now offering a $ 30,000 reward for information leading to the death of 17-year-old Ethan Liming, who died last week in an elementary school parking lot after being involved in an altercation that police believe was triggered by the use of a water pistol.
The incident happened around 22:46 on the night of Thursday, June 2, near the basketball courts of the I Promise school in Akron, according to the police. Officials say Liming died after suffering minor head injuries and no arrests have been made until Friday.
“Ethan Liming was a young man with a full life ahead of him and this bright future was unreasonably taken away from him in the most brutal way,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horigan. “This kind of violence in our community has ripple effects that affect everyone, including me, in a profound way, and I know the city of Akron is mourning this huge loss.”
Akron police are still investigating Liming’s death, but said that “in the moments leading up to the incident, one or more passengers [Liming’s] vehicle was moving around the area shooting a SPLATRBALL Water Bead Blaster at objects and possibly unsuspecting people.
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The water pistol that Akron police believe caused the quarrel that led to the death of Ethan Liming. (Akron Police Station)
“A short time later, the group of teenagers entered the property at 400 W. Market Street and drove in the direction of the basketball court,” the statement continued. “The teenagers then appeared to have targeted or approached people on the pitch and fired their soft pistols at them.
“The collective actions of the teenagers in the car seem to have unfortunately caused the quarrel,” he added.
Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett told a news conference Wednesday that Liming was found unresponsive when police arrived and that first responders’ efforts to rescue him were unsuccessful. Liming was found dead at the scene.
Ethan Liming was found dead in the parking lot of I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, on June 2, police say.
Describing the events unfolding, Mylett said at least two people in Liming’s vehicle got out and started firing at four people playing basketball on the school field.
The group fled before all six were back in the vehicle, where Liming “was attacked and a fight ensued,” according to Millet.
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“In the end, Ethan Liming is dead,” he added.
Police say they are offering a $ 30,000 reward for information leading to the location, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for Limming’s death.