A man is fatally shot while driving On May 12, 2018, Ralph Hartwell Jr., a 26-year-old resident of Akron, Ohio, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting while driving near 1313 Manchester Road in Akron. The incident occurred at approximately 2:36 p.m. on the city's southwest side. Hartwell was found with multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. Alongside him in the car was a 20-year-old male who was also seriously injured and "fighting for his life" at the time, as well as a 5-year-old girl who was hurt, though it remains
unclear if she was shot during the attack. Authorities described the vehicle involved in the shooting as a silver Ford Focus with a damaged or missing passenger-side mirror, which they were seeking in connection to the crime.
The Akron Police Department continues to classify this homicide as unsolved, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has included it in their list of cold cases in an effort to bring renewed attention and gather potential leads from the public. They are encouraging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward, as even small details may help provide answers in this ongoing investigation. This case remains part of broader efforts by law enforcement to address unsolved violent crimes in the community and bring justice for victims like Ralph Hartwell Jr. and their families.
