Marquis Antwan Sams, 23, was fatally shot on July 18, 2021, at Hawkins Plaza, a shopping center on South Hawkins Avenue in Akron. The shooting happened around 9 p.m. during a large gathering that included drag racing and reckless driving. Sams was taken to Akron General Medical Center and died shortly after arrival. A 17-year-old boy was also shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Akron police said multiple shots were fired by one or more people and opened an investigation; as of the following morning no arrests had been announced. The same night saw another deadly shooting elsewhere in the city, bringing Akron’s homicide count notably higher than the previous year. Anyone who was at Hawkins Plaza that evening or who has information about the shooting is asked to come forward.