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| Akron Police Arrest Deshawn Stafford in Highland Square Shooting That Killed Innocent Bystander Timothy Hutchinson |
Akron, Ohio — The Akron Police Department (APD), working with the U.S. Marshals Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, announced early Thursday that they have arrested 24-year-old Deshawn Stafford in connection with the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Timothy Hutchinson.
The shooting took place on Sunday, October 5, 2025, in the Highland Square neighborhood of Akron. Hutchinson was an innocent bystander caught in a cross-fire between two shooters. He was struck in the head and later died of his injury.
According to the APD, the incident began when Stafford allegedly fired at another man. That man then returned fire, and in that exchange Hutchinson was hit. The police say Stafford faces multiple charges including murder, felonious assault, discharging a firearm on a public roadway and having weapons under disability.
Stafford was found in a house in the 200 block of Crosby Street in Akron. He initially refused to open the door, but officers eventually took him into custody.
This is not Stafford’s first brush with serious crime. He previously was sentenced in September 2023 to an 18-month prison term for aggravated assault connected with the 2022 death of teenager Ethan Liming outside the I Promise School. Since that time, he had faced other charges for disorderly conduct and drugs.
A second suspect in the October 5 shooting, Jermaine Howard, age 22, has already surrendered to authorities and is believed to be involved in the cross-fire. The details of his exact role remain under investigation.
Hutchinson, the victim, had recently graduated from the University of Akron. He was described by friends as not involved in the earlier dispute and simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. One college friend said: “It didn’t seem real at first, you never think that something like this can happen.”
The shooting and subsequent arrest have stirred concern about rising gun violence and homicides in Summit County. Community leaders and law-enforcement officials say the case underscores the risk to innocent bystanders when illegal firearms and reckless shootouts occur in public places.
APD Lieutenant Michael Murphy said arresting Stafford was “a significant arrest for us because we’re able to take a dangerous individual off the streets of Akron and make our community safer.” Meanwhile, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott called Hutchinson’s death “a terrible reminder of the danger and devastation illegal firearms in the hands of criminals bring to a community.”
The city of Akron has announced it will continue its efforts with neighborhood businesses and residents, especially in the Highland Square area, to crack down on late-night partying in parking lots and increase safety measures to prevent such violence from happening again.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact APD’s Detective Bureau at (330) 375-2490 or submit a tip anonymously to the U.S. Marshals via 1-866-4WANTED.
As Stafford awaits court proceedings, the community remains in mourning over the loss of a young life taken by someone not involved in the conflict. Families, friends and residents are calling for action and solutions to stop the cycle of deadly gun violence.
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