Seventeen-year-old Anthony Elliott was fatally shot on October 29, 2023, after a rap performance at Versified Expressions Poetry Cafe on Romig Road in Akron. A verbal dispute inside the venue turned physical in the parking lot, where multiple shots were fired. Anthony sustained several gunshot wounds and was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 10 p.m.

Two other Cleveland residents were wounded in the same incident: a 23-year-old woman hospitalized in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, and a 32-year-old man who arrived at Summa Health Akron City Hospital with a gunshot wound believed to be related to the altercation. As of September 2024, no arrests had been made and the case remained unsolved. Anthony’s mother, Shamika Howard, has pushed for witnesses to come forward. Anthony was a senior at Lincoln-West School of Global Studies, described as laid-back, optimistic, respectful, and passionate about music and basketball.

If anyone was at the venue that night or has information about the parking lot confrontation, please share what you know with investigators.