On the evening of May 4, 2026, a dispute inside the Noisy Oyster Pub in Akron, Ohio, escalated to a fatal act of violence, claiming the life of 31-year-old Eric Schaffer. A resident of nearby Cuyahoga Falls, Schaffer was a lifelong area native known for his love of sports, particularly basketball. He worked as a bookkeeper and was an active member of the Holy Family Catholic Church.
The tragic events of that Monday evening cut short a life described by family and friends as full of competitive spirit and loyalty.
The incident at the North Portage Path establishment reportedly began as a verbal argument between Schaffer and another man. The disagreement quickly intensified, leading to a physical altercation. The confrontation culminated in a shooting that left Schaffer with multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. First responders arrived at the scene around 8:14 p.m. to find patrons attempting to render aid. Schaffer was rushed to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where he succumbed to his injuries at 8:49 p.m. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office officially ruled his death a homicide. A second man, aged 35, was also struck by gunfire, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries to his legs.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the suspect fled the scene on foot, prompting an extensive search by the Akron Police Department, aided by a Summit County Sheriff's K9 unit and drones. Law enforcement was able to recover discarded clothing and video footage from nearby residences that captured the suspect's flight. Later that same evening, at approximately 11:21 p.m., 28-year-old Larnell Nealy Jr. surrendered to authorities at the Summit County Jail. He was taken into custody by Akron police detectives for questioning and subsequently charged with murder and felonious assault. Investigators began working to determine if Schaffer and Nealy had any prior relationship and the specific nature of their argument. The case, as it stands from available online sources, details the events of the tragic shooting and the swift arrest of a suspect, though the final disposition of the legal proceedings, including any trial, conviction, or sentencing, is not publicly documented.
