Search ongoing for shooter in Akron police incident

Authorities are looking for a driver who shot at police officers during a traffic stop in Akron early Tuesday. The incident happened at 3:50 a.m. when officers tried to stop a silver Ford F-150 XLT. As the officers approached the vehicle, the driver fired a shot at them. One officer returned fire, but the suspect managed to flee. It is not known if the suspect was injured. Fortunately, neither officer was hurt during the exchange. The vehicle is registered with Ohio license plate PND-1016 and may have traveled west on Vernon Odom Boulevard and then north on Interstate 77. This shooting occurs in a tense environment between law enforcement and the Akron community. Recently, officer Davon Fields was involved in a shooting that wounded a teenager in a separate incident. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said he is grateful the officers were unharmed and urged the public to provide any information that could help find the suspect. Mayor Malik described the shooting as extremely dangerous and emphasized the risks officers face in their work. The officer who returned fire has been with the department for four years and will go on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure. An investigation into the incident is underway by the city’s Office of Professional Standards and Accountability. Police Chief Brian Harding noted that the incident highlights the challenges officers encounter. The department is actively searching for the suspect and encourages anyone with information to contact the Akron police detective bureau.