Man struck by stray bullet in downtown Akron police say may have come from long distance rifle shot

AKRON, Ohio - Akron police were called to a downtown South Main Street bar for reports of a man shot just before midnight Wednesday night.

When officers arrived, they found a man with a minor gunshot wound to his shoulder.

The man told police that he felt something hit him in the shoulder while standing outside Club Rose across from Canal Park Stadium but never heard any shots. As police investigated more, they found that the bullet came from a rifle and appeared to have been fired from a long distance away.

Just before the man called 911 police had received calls about shots fired on Russell Avenue, about a mile south of where the victim was hit.

Police believe that a person shooting a rifle into the air is responsible for the man being shot in the shoulder. The victim was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.