by BATH TOWNSHIP, OHIO — A late-night birthday celebration at an Airbnb rental in northern Ohio turned chaotic when gunfire erupted, leaving nine people injured early Sunday morning, police confirmed.
Bath Township Police Chief Vito Sinopoli said during a press briefing that officers were still working to identify the victims, describing them as a mix of adults and youth. At least one person suffered a leg injury from a fall while fleeing the scene, though it remains unclear how many were struck by gunfire. The victims’ conditions have not yet been released.
“This kind of violence is unacceptable in our community, and we’re committed to applying all available resources to this investigation,” Chief Sinopoli said.
Chaos at the Scene
Officers responded to reports of a shooting around midnight on Saturday at a home in the 900 block of Top O Hill Drive, roughly 26 miles south of Cleveland. Upon arrival, they found what Sinopoli called a “chaotic scene” and immediately began providing life-saving medical aid before victims were transported to nearby hospitals.
The shooting broke out during a large house party that was reportedly advertised on social media as a birthday event starting at 9:30 p.m. When shots rang out, attendees fled the residence in panic.
“Preliminary information indicates that the majority of the shots were fired on the ground floor,” Sinopoli noted.
Investigation Underway
Authorities said no arrests have been made and it’s unclear how many shooters were involved. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and collecting evidence from the scene.
Police are urging anyone with information — no matter how small — to come forward to assist in the investigation.
The Bath Township Police Department is also working with Airbnb and the property owner, as short-term rentals are prohibited by local zoning laws.
“Typically, in a situation like this, there’d be a compliance letter issued to the property owner,” Sinopoli said.
Airbnb Responds
In a statement to ABC News, Airbnb said it was “heartbroken by this senseless act of gun violence.”
“Unauthorized and disruptive gatherings are strictly prohibited on Airbnb, and our Safety team acted immediately to remove the account of the individual who deliberately broke rules by booking this stay,” the company said.
The company also highlighted its ongoing efforts to curb large gatherings through its “anti-party system,” which uses machine learning to detect potentially risky bookings. Last year, the system reportedly deterred 38,000 people in the U.S. and 6,300 in Canada from making party-related reservations during Halloween weekend.
History of Violence and Broader Context
This isn’t the first time Bath Township has seen violence at a short-term rental. In July 2017, a similar shooting incident at another Airbnb property left one person with a leg wound.
The recent tragedy adds to the growing number of mass shootings across the United States. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 358 mass shootings — incidents involving four or more victims — reported nationwide so far this year.
Authorities continue to search for suspects as the community grapples with the aftermath of another act of senseless violence. What are your thoughts on Airbnb’s party ban and local short-term rental laws? Join the discussion at race-day-live.com.
