Tyler L. Flinn, a 25-year-old man from Akron, Ohio, was tragically shot and killed on January 9, 2022, in the parking lot of an apartment building in Fairlawn. The incident marked Fairlawn's first homicide in 44 years. Flinn was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head/neck, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide by the Summit County Medical Examiner.
The investigation revealed that Flinn was riding with his cousin in a pickup truck when they were chased by another vehicle. When they stopped in the parking lot, a gun battle ensued, and Flinn was shot. Witnesses reported that two men fled the scene in a white, mid-sized car.
On January 15, 2022, Terrance Owens, a 20-year-old Akron resident, turned himself in to the Fairlawn Police Department and was charged with one count of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated robbery. Owens was accompanied by an attorney when he surrendered and was subsequently placed in the Summit County Jail. Owens' arrest brought some measure of closure to the case, but the investigation continued as police followed several leads to ensure all aspects of the crime were thoroughly examined.
Flinn's family described him as a laid-back individual who enjoyed traveling and spending time with his 4-year-old son. His mother, January Flinn, expressed the family's heartbreak and the impact of losing Tyler on their lives. The community also mourned the loss, and a vigil was held to honor Flinn's memory and to pray for justice.
The Fairlawn Police Department, along with neighboring law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Marshal's Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, worked tirelessly to bring closure to this tragic case. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to seek any additional information that could further clarify the circumstances surrounding Flinn's death.
