The Elijah Wells who breathed joy, promise and kindness into every room he entered, has died. On Thursday morning, the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the 18‑year‑old from Akron succumbed to the injuries he suffered in a chaotic mass shooting at an rented house in Bath Township over the weekend.
It all began late Sunday night at a party advertised on social media, held at a two‑story home on Top O Hill Drive. What should have been a celebration turned into a nightmare when gunfire erupted inside the house. Nine young people were injured; at least four guns are believed to have been used by multiple shooters. Elijah was among the eight or nine wounded, with his family later sharing that he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was in critical condition.
Before his passing, Elijah’s mother, Alicia Wells, bravely shared updates: doctors had to force air into his lungs, he’d been placed on life support, his kidneys were failing and his left lung collapsed. His sister, Brittany Wells, described how her brother—who just days before was laughing, creating music, enjoying life—was fighting for his life and that the family’s world was turned upside down.
Morning brought more grim news when officials confirmed Elijah’s death. Bath Township police issued a statement extending their deepest sympathy to the family and noting that this tragic loss reflects a sobering reality: no community is immune to violence.
Investigators say this is a complex and ongoing case. Several firearms were recovered at the scene, witnesses are being interviewed, and evidence is being processed — but so far no arrests have been made. Police continue to ask for anyone who attended the party or has relevant information to come forward.
In the days leading up to this moment, Elijah’s family shared that he was finding his stride — he loved rapping, writing his own music, enjoyed sports and was stepping into his next chapter. That all changed in one dazzling yet devastating night. His loss has left an emptiness in the hearts of his loved ones and the wider Akron and Bath communities.
Now, as friends and family mourn, there’s a quiet but resolute vow: to keep Elijah’s memory alive — the warmth he brought, the promise he held, and the dreams he carried. He was taken far too soon. And though he’s gone, his spirit—and the mark he made on those who knew him—will live on forever.
