Death toll rises in shooting rampage

The death toll from one of the most violent weekends in Akron’s history has risen to three after an underage victim died in the hospital Tuesday.

Damonta Martin, 17, of Toby Terrace in Akron has died. He was the third victim to be fatally shot in the head as police are left with few leads and several uncooperative witnesses in nine separate shootings that kept officers busy every other hour from Friday morning through Sunday morning.

The teen was found in the grass after 11 p.m. Friday near an apartment in the 1300 block of Dahlgren Drive.

Also killed this weekend were Robert Lee McCall, 58, and Bonn Rassavong, 46, both of Akron.

Rassavong died at Summa Akron City Hospital after police found him shot in the head in the 600 block of Schiller Avenue in North Hill about 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

McCall, who died sometime between 4:30 and 6 a.m. Saturday, was found in a parking lot in the 300 block of South Arlington Street, also shot in the head.

Akron police officials said there are no suspects in any of the shootings.

Despite FBI data that say violent crime in Akron is at a 12-year low, the recent spike in gun violence has raised concerns about safety. Akron detectives investigated 42 homicides last year, the most since 1978. The 2017 figure included 28 shooting deaths and a family of seven who died in a suspected arson. An Akron Police Department spokesman said there have been 18 homicides so far in 2018.

Anyone with information on the homicides or other weekend shootings is urged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490; the U.S. Marshals Service at 866-4-WANTED; or Summit County Crimestoppers Inc. at 330-434-COPS. People also may text TIPSCO with tips to 274637 (Crimes). Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Akron detectives investigated 42 homicides last year, the most since 1978. The 2017 figure included 28 shooting deaths and a family of seven who died in a suspected arson.