Isaiah Leon Pope was an old soul in a young body. The 4-year-old Black boy from Akron, Ohio, was described by his family as intelligent, full of life, and always on the move, brightening any room he entered. Though he had a mischievous streak, he also had a strong sense of self and a knack for understanding others. Isaiah loved 90s R&B music and superheroes, especially Spiderman.
He was born in Barberton, Ohio, on September 20, 2018, and was deeply loved by his mother, stepfather, older brother, and baby sister.
On the afternoon of Saturday, August 26, 2023, a tragedy occurred at a home in the 1000 block of Edmeyer Court in Akron. According to police, Isaiah found an unsecured gun belonging to a relative and accidentally shot himself. Several other adults, including Isaiah’s mother, and other children were in the home at the time of the incident. The relative who owned the firearm was not present.
Akron police officers were called to the home around 12:30 p.m. and found Isaiah with an apparent gunshot wound. He was immediately transported to Akron Children's Hospital for emergency treatment. He remained in critical condition for three days before he succumbed to his injury. Isaiah was pronounced dead at 8:44 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
A preliminary investigation by the Akron Police Department determined that the shooting was accidental. The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office officially identified Isaiah and confirmed his death. As of late August 2023, no charges had been filed in connection with the shooting.
