Medical examiner identifies 21-year-old Akron man killed in Patterson Park

AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - The Summit County Medical Examiner identified the 21-year-old man shot to death in Patterson Park Sunday afternoon.

The victim is Keion LaShawn DeGrate, of Akron.

Akron police said officers were called to the park in the 600 block of Lucille Ave. around 3 p.m. on Dec. 8 after receiving calls of multiple gunshots.

“There were a number of 911 calls that came flooding into the call center,” said Akron Police Captain Michael Miller. “Each of those callers reported hearing over a dozen shots. Some reported that it sounded like rifle rounds.”

When they arrived, officers said they found DeGrate in a grassy area near the basketball courts.

Officers said DeGrate had been shot multiple times with an assault rifle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police added they recovered more than 12 assault rifle casings from the field.

Witnesses reported to police that a vehicle fled the scene, possibly an SUV and Captain Miller said detectives are actively looking for the shooter.

“We have recovered a vehicle in that regard and we’re trying to determine the association between the incident and whoever was driving the vehicle and their degree of involvement,” said Captain Miller.