Reward up to $5k offered in the murder of young mother caught in crossfire during shootout in Akron

AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - As a young mother is laid to rest, a reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of her killer.

Teyaurra Harris was the mother of two young children, with a third on the way when Akron Police say she became an innocent victim, caught in the crossfire of two groups of people embroiled in a shootout. At least 30 rounds were fired from three different weapons, in a neighborhood full of people.

The crime happened back on April 14th shortly after 7:00 PM on Rockaway Street in Akron.

In an instant, the precious life of a 21-year-old woman was gone. Neighbors flooded the 911 center with chilling 911 calls. One female caller told dispatchers, “Major explosions, major guns, it sounds like bombs went off. I can hear people screaming, and I can hear them say call the police, call the police!”

Teyaurra Harris was the passenger in a passing car when she was hit in the head by one of the bullets.

Her boyfriend desperate for help stopped a police officer while on the phone with 911 telling them his girlfriend was shot and he was trying to get to the hospital, “Sir, sir! I need help. I need to get to the hospital. She got shot!”

Lieutenant Mike Miller is with the Akron Police Department, “Multiple parties were exchanging gunfire. One of those bullets struck the rear of the vehicle that she was a passenger in - she later died from those injuries.”

Akron Police say a reward is now being offered of up to $5,000 by Summit County Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Harris’ killer. A second woman was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital in a separate car.

“The detectives have made tremendous progress, but we still need the public’s help to find who the shooter was,” Lt. Miller said.

RING camera video shows a 15-year-old with a rifle during the shootout. He’s now one of three people arrested on weapons charges, but at this point, the evidence gathered is being analyzed and no one has been charged with the murder. Three weapons have been recovered and police say it will take some time to flush out exactly who fired the deadly shot, “The community is a very key partner, equal partner in our ability to do this,” Lt. Harris said.

Because remember Teyaurra Harris was an innocent victim simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, “(She was) Someone’s daughter, someone’s child, someone’s sister, someone’s mother.”

If you have information that could help solve this case and catch a killer, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000. Call Akron Police Detectives or Summit County Crime Stoppers at (330) 434-COPS. You can remain anonymous.