Akron police are investigating a shooting late Tuesday night that left one man dead on the city’s west side.
The victim has been identified as Monte Pitts, 34, of Akron. He died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Pitts is the city’s fourth homicide victim this year. Each has died from gunfire.
The shooting took place in the 900 block of Dover Avenue about 11:30 p.m. The victim died about 45 minutes later, police said.
Police were initially called to the area after neighbors reported hearing shots being fired. Pitts was found in the backyard of a home. The shooter has not yet been identified.
Pitts was released from prison last May after serving just over 10 years for drug trafficking and related charges. He was recently jailed in Summit County after violating terms of his re-entry program.
Family members could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
The shooting took place a few blocks from Copley Road. On Friday, a small group of demonstrators rallied at the corner of Storer Avenue and Copley Road in the hopes of ending the spate of gun violence that has plagued the neighborhood in the past year.
A year ago, a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed as he walked outside the Mr. Pantry convenience store on Copley Road.
A few blocks away on Madison Avenue, two brothers were robbed and shot inside their home earlier this month. One died, the other survived. A cousin is accused in the slaying.
A week or so later on the same street, an Akron woman, 21, was shot inside a van. She survived. In December, a man was stabbed during a fight on Madison Avenue near Work Avenue.
On Wednesday morning, Akron police returned to the Dover Avenue residence where the shooting took place. Detectives appeared to be searching for more evidence related to the shooting.
Police Lt. Rick Edwards said witnesses saw two cars, one red, the other white, fleeing in opposite directions immediately after the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Akron police at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips for this or any crime may be left at http://ci.akron.oh.us/ASP/tip.html.
Information may also be provided anonymously by calling Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS(2677). Tipsters might qualify for a cash reward.
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com. He can be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PhilTrexler.