Mother seeks justice nearly a year after Akron teen’s murder

AKRON, Ohio — Nearly a year has passed since a teenager was shot and killed outside an Akron business.

The murder of 17-year-old Anthony Elliott remains unsolved, but his mother, Shamika Howard of Cleveland, continues to demand answers and justice.

“I’m not going to stop until justice is served, and that’s the main thing. I want justice for my baby,” Howard said.

Family photo

Howard is forced to focus on memories of her son after he died from gun violence last October.

“He was just an innocent soul. He just wanted to hang out with his friends, play basketball, play video games,” she said.

Anthony was supposed to graduate from Lincoln-West School of Global Studies in Cleveland last spring, but Howard had to accept in his memory.

“He wasn’t there to be able to walk up on stage and pick up his diploma like all the other kids,” Howard said.

On the night of October 29, 2023, Anthony went with his family to Versified Expressions Poetry Cafe on Romig Road to watch a rap performance.

However, an altercation broke out inside. The fight spilled outside and gunfire ensued, police said.

Three people were shot and wounded, including Anthony, who was killed.

Deputy Chief David Laughlin told News 5 he feels for the family.

“The family that now has to spend the rest of their lives grieving the loss of a loved one taken from them at such a young age, I can’t even imagine the heartbreak,” Laughlin said.

Howard said she was frustrated that people who know the truth about the deadly shooting have not come forward and that the killer has still not been identified.

“I think they’re cowards, and I don’t think anyone should be able to walk down the street like that,” she said.

Howard also questioned whether detectives were doing enough to solve his son’s murder.

“This has been going on for a year and I feel like I’m being taken for a ride,” Howard said.

But Laughlin said police would leave “no stone unturned” and the case remained an active investigation.

“We’re frustrated, too. This is a community effort to solve these crimes. People were there. They know what happened,” Laughlin said. “Just a few weeks ago, investigators were conducting interviews, seeking additional search warrants as names came forward.”

As the one-year anniversary approaches, Howard plans to do “his own work” in his search for answers.

“Anthony didn’t deserve this. He had his whole life ahead of him.”

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Akron Police Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS.