This is terrible. I pray for a full recovery. I am terrified everytime I leave my Akron home. Just when I think I am paranoid, I see more random acts of violence. Mayor please do something.

23 and 2:23 ain't what it use to be.

Airman reserves needed to sweep the scum off Akron streets after 12:01am

I don't expect beacon Journal proof readers to know much about military terms...but its "beret" not "barret".

Sorry to hear about this fine young man, I certainly hope somebody tells on the rejects that did this to him.

If Iraq is safer than Akron, maybe troops should be sent there.

I really think i would welcome them....

You id iots voted for your mayor...

Yes you...

have fun getting shot

Hope the young man recovers and those thugs are caught and punished.

They shot the Marine over a year ago and now they shot the airman.

Sommerville and Plusquellic seems to support these lcoal punks instead of making an all out effort to rid Akron of it's violence.

People leave Akron crime ridden schools and neighborhoods and the democratic party of keeping poverty and crime alive in Akron.

My hats off to Sommerville and PLUSQUELLIC for keeping Akron alive with crime

Vince were praying for a full recovery cousin...

Someone knows something, our city has gone to you know where in a hand basket! I am praying for this young man and his family!! Mr mayor, don't you care? The streets of Akron are NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE!! We can not afford to let one officer get laid off!! This young man survived Iraq and then gets shot in the city of Akron, there is something very, very, very WRONG HERE!! Someone please come forward with information about this, please help this family, and get the scum that shot him off the streets!!

I am waiting for bubblehead from Tallmadge to weigh in on this one. I am sure he will having something nice to say here or a shiny new building that we should look at. He probably has not yet arrived at work. He said he feels safe in every neighborhood in Akron.

Man, our brave warriors have to come back to their hometown and find its a combat zone. And the Mayor's solution is to layoff 90 plus police...would have laid off another 70-100 THIS year without one time only money from the Feds & First Energy. Brilliant?

@Lie Detector, you are right they did shoot a marine about a year ago. I think he had stopped at a gas station and was shot. I will have to look the article up to be sure. It really does make a strong statement when a man comes home from Iraq or Afghanistan where there is chaos and war and people running around with machine guns only to come home to be shot in the face for a few bucks out of his wallet. Yet,our police officers and the police union according to the Mayor and this paper are out of touch fiscally with what is going on in our city. Really...The Mayor is and has been out of touch with what is going on in the city... too busy traveling to beautiful places and having expensive meals that we are all paying for and only worrying about the next economic development project that may or may not work out but who cares cause it's your money he is spending and when all is said and done with this Mayor do you think for one minute he us going to live out the rest of his days in Akron....

I've lost count of how many stories have appeared on Ohio.com in the past year alone detailing shootings, assaults, and robberies at various Akron bars & nightclubs --> at 2 AM, 3 AM or later in the morning.

While shootings can occur at anytime of the day or night, I think it's worthwhile to leave the club long before 2 AM. Seems to me you can reduce your chances of being jacked just by making that simple adjustment.

How sad. I hope the young man recovers.

I am all for having our service men protect us. Why are we good enough to deserve the same protection other countries get from us.

This is an outrage. The Mayor needs to crack down on these neighborhoods that are full of thugs.

I hate to tell everyone, but it is not the Mayor nor the Governor, nor the President faults for these people doing what they're doing. It is their parents and the lack of decent parents today that is the problem. Most of these parents seem to think that they are off the hook as soon as the kid is out and if little Johnny does anything wrong it's the police or some other authority figure to blame. My kid is always perfect, this mentality is whats driving the jump in crime in Akron. The parents therefore should be held accountable for any action of their children under the age of 18, including going to prison for their child crimes.

Wow....this is extremely heartbreaking. Akron is a warzone. God bless him & his family

I want stronger laws to keep the low life scum off the streets and I want them NOW. The bottom feeding predators must be put in their place NOW. This can not continue to keep happening and change is needed NOW. The good people of Akron need a stong leader with a strong voice and a strong plan to stop these gun crimes NOW. I'm sick of it ! And I'm really sick of the indifference of the leadership of Akron. Somebody had better step up soon.

John , while what you stated may be true, it's not the time or place to even think of accusing the victim of using bad judgement. I believe that we were all young once and didn't always use the best of judgement ourselves, at least I know that that was true of myself.

Be strong and get well young man.

Hold the parents responsible for their under 18 children's wear-a-bouts and behavior, is a start but definitely the Mayor and Council need to be held responsible for not addressing the escalating crime problem in their city. Laying off police under these circumstances is totally irresponsible.

I just don't understand why the citizens of Akron continue to re-elect these jokers...amazing.

johnboy, you need to wake up...crime is everywhere, and from every kind...not just hoodies...where is your comment on the story about the man who raped the 2 year old

Terrible story. I hope Mr. Taylor survives. We must be mindful of the streets here at this time in the morning. I too, along with Mr. Taylors parents pray that those thugs turn their lives around. God help us!

I hope this young man makes a full recovery.

Hmm, this kid had a job, graduated high school, had the common sense to not drive after being out at the bar, and apparently wasn't carrying a gun, and of course, fought in a war on our behalf. I think he's earned going to a club without being shot.

Find the perps and put them away for the next decade.

If you see Vincent Taylor at a bar, buy him a round. The kid's earned it.

I feel the Beacon should start printing all of the arrests made, every day. That way, people will see what the police are dealing with on a daily basis. From what I was told, there are very few officers assigned to the gang unit. That needs to be changed, and a reduction in manpower would never allow that.

Let the public know what to look for as far as gang colors and signs, etc. Let us know the names of the gangs and where they are located.

It is a shame that young people have to fear for their lives when they want to go out and have some fun. Thank goodness I never had to fear that when I was their ages and going to Kent on the weekends.

I agree with some of the posters. This is a war zone. We just do not know our enemy.

johnboy, you need to wake up...crime is everywhere, and from every kind...not just hoodies...where is your comment on the story about the man who raped the 2 year old

He had no comment, because the serial killers and pedophiles run his demographic.

Keep racial scheisse out of the comments.

FTA- "The suspects are described as two black males in their late teens"


- Ah say here, I'm ah shocked......shocked I say.

(read that aloud in your best "foghorn leghorn" voice for proper effect)


seriously though folks we need to get a sterilizing agent into the "black & milds" and the ".50 cent juicys" and we need to do it now.

Akron is a CESS POOL. I'd love to see the National Guard sent in to keep the peace.....and bust a few skulls.

God Bless Vincent Taylor. I pray for a full recovery

No surprise about the description of the suspects. It's always the same in this type of crime.

The Akron Police need to hunt down the animal that shot this wonderful young man ... oh, wait ... we don't need police in Akron. I forgot. Thanks Mr. Mayor and Akron City Council for making our city less safe!

Until we get tougher laws and an bipartisan administration in this city, we will see more of this. WE must begin to question whether it is time to bring back the draft? (Serously) These people who commit these evil crimes need to be in a position were they have to fight in the real enemy. Or perhaps when our youth are involved in crime, they should be sent off to a "real boot camp" controled by the US military. As parents and citizens alike, it is our responsibility to remove leadership that does not take into concern the greater good of the people. As another poster commented, do you think our leaders will reside in Akron after or retirement.

This is sad stuff, I hope this young man makes a full recovery. This is the main reason I was in town helping my sister move 2 weeks ago. Akron is not safe anymore, and has only gotten worse over the last 20 years while King Don has played politics and hob nobbed in DC and oversees.

The people of Akron need to take their city back and quit complaining about the Mayor because he does not care or he would get stuff done. You guys voted him back in office many times, plus a new Mayor will not change things over night.

In the mid to late 80's I could play football in East Akron around Goodrich middle school with friends, but that changed when drugs and gangs took over the streets.

People are getting out of Akron fast.

Forget the pedophiles. The greater danger is just in walking down an Akron street and avoiding bullets.

Happy Birthday Vincent!!!! thank you for your service to our country. I am thinking of you and your family.

God Bless.

-

As I stated before this is such a terrible thing to happen to anyone. Now our young men and women go to War for our country and come home to be shot down, shot at, killed.....it just sad.

Our prayer to the Taylor family. If this is who I think it is I know them from church. I pray for Gods' healing power and, this young man will physically recovery @ 100%. Also to his parents Gods' Grace and Mercy is what is keeping you all. The act of forgiveness is a prime example of your faith. Praying for all of you.

My families prayers are going out to this young man and his family. My son went to school at Central-Hower with him.

It is a scary time in this city and the mayor and city council better wake up... We need more police and fire/ems workers not less!!

You...ah ...know....ah......

God could have made them miss.

\just saying
\\ I know, I know "mysterious ways" and all that...

I'm neither pro nor con for the mayor,but so many people in this city seems to believe only crimes occur in Akron.History lesson no jobs no taxes from working citizens=no money to paid policemen.This is a formula that is occurring to majority of the country not just Akron.Put the blame where it belongs our CEO and like who have relocated majority of blue collar jobs from industrial states such as Ohio overseas.Without this type of income available in urban cities we know have a breeding ground for young uneducated irresponsible individuals.Good parenting without a doubt would help eliminate a great deal of crime,but we as human beings do not select who our parents will be.Past history tells us that if there are jobs available that pays livable wages society will be a better place for all to have success.I'm not making excuses for these hideous crimes just trying help others face the reality that IF YOU SHARE THE WEALTH THEN WE ALL COULD HAVE A MORE PEACFUL SOCIETY.GOD BLESS THE TAYLOR FAMILY............

A tragedy for sure, a young man goes to Iraq and survives only to come home an get shot, my prayers are with the Taylor family.

South Street, Johnson and surrounding area is a cesspool of trouble, why in the world would anyone jepordize their life by traveling that road let alone visit a bar in that area...especially at that time...it is more dangerous than Iraq...apparently !

test

@ davismollie

As radical as that sounds, I think that there is much merit in your idea. No chance that the bleeding hearts would allow that to happen though. It's time for this country to buck up and get tough again. If the parents (or parent) can't get the job done, let somebody else get some results.

Please no draft. Lets not pollute the military with these idiots.

draft the white T crowd and they will just abandon their posts, sell their weapons and run like rabbits as soon as a fire fight broke out if not sooner. They are cowardly honor less scum. And they military does not want them and has steps in place to keep them out.

No the only use I can see for the white T boyz is to have them walk down the road kicking anything suspicious well in front of the real troops. That right there would be the only value they could provide.

Automatic death penalty with no appeals!

Thugs couldn't care less about this good man.

Bond together with your neighbors and formed armed street patrols. Keep outside lights on at night. If you can afford it a few security cameras are great. It is up to us to provide for our own safty. We can no longer depend on city hall or city council.

I refuse to let these savages roaming the streets and preying on honest hard woring people black, or white, dictate when and where I choose to go. If one of them ever gets in my face I promise you it will be one or how many less of these clowns to worry about! I'm Sick and tired of this Shi#### and I for one am not gonna take it anymore!!!

From a Marine to an Airman- My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Thank you for your service. I wish you well and hope for a full and speedy recovery for you. my son is currently serving in Iraq it's his second tour there. now I'm going to say something that I've said in other post that will probably upset a few, but I don't care, because it needs to be said.
I will start by saying; yes we need LAW and SAFETY FORCES. And a justice system. I have nothing against the police. But for people to honestly believe we can police our way out of this situation is totally unrealistic. There has been sin and crime since the beginning of time. We have more laws on the books now than any other country. We have more people locked up in this country, than any other industrialized country in the world. So obviously this is not the solution to the problem.
It is about our culture. Man can not stop sin or crime. The true answer is in our LORD JESUS CHRIST. We need to right away get back to teaching our youth about christian values and morals. You will never be able to pass enough laws or build enough prisons to stop sin and crime.

God bless you Airman Taylor and God speed your full recovery. As far as forgiving the thugs that shot you like your Mother has done already I can't. We as citizens of this city and everywhere else have to say enough is enough and start to make an effort to get involved and pressure the authorities to make arrests and prosecutors to close the door on these animals. No doubt that the thugs that shot this young man will also be shot sometime in his life and on, and on and on. A direct result of a very liberal society, and a "as long as I'm not effected,a who cares attitude". And let's not forget our friends at the ACLU. Good luck.

i hope all of you don and marco supporters are happy, jerks.

Instead of coming out of a night club at 2:20pm in the morning, perhaps this young man would have been better off at home. Night clubs are dangerous. My prayers are with this airman.

Vincent and Nellie my prayers are with you.

I live in akron and it's not the same as before all of this violence started. Too bad it use to be a good town , now a days you can trust no one.

To the Taylor family My family and I are praying with you and I know GOD is able and he will see yyou through this. All praise be unto Allah Todd65 you've got it right! To all God's children we have been warned of the wrath of God and the time we live in today is a Satanic attack on our youth we must pray to God for the deliverance of our youth and they must submit or they will pay a grave price. America it is time to pray and parents it is an outrage that prayer was allowed to be taken out of the school system, only to let the devil in. "WHO IN THE --- LEFT THE GATE OPEN". I will be sending a letter to all the minister's, bishop's, churches, and the surrounding spiritual leaders to get involved in paraying the devil out of communities, there is a way to stop this maddness in Akron who will help take a stand or who will just sit and complain? And for the angry youth of today quickly turn to JC for every knee shall bow and the devil will flee for no weapon formed against you shall prosper. THE TIME IS AT HAND!

@ Canada 71- Thank you very much. I mean that with all my heart. Finally someone who understands the real problem and is right on with the only solution.The answer is not as easy as more laws and more law enforcement, is it. Man received the LAW from GOD our creator, and was unable to live by it. We all fall short of GODS glory, that is why GOD sent us JESUS. It is only self- righteous people that think that they are better than others and not guiltly. We all need to pray on a daily basis.

GOD BLESS ALL and GOD BLESS THE WORLD

Thank you Vincent Taylor for your service to our country, I pray for your recovery. I am sorry this happened to you, someone out there will know who the scum-buckets are that did this and I hope they will turn them in.

Bob Dyer should do an article reminding Akron Citizens about Ohio's open carry law. You don't need a CCW unless you wish to conceal. If you are allowed to own a handgun in Ohio, you are allowed to open carry it on the hip, like a policeman. Most people aren't aware of the law. Neither are many Police Officers. Bob could let everyone know with his column. Strap on your holster, the old west is here and the outlaws are needing tended to.

''You know when he's in Iraq, you know who he's fighting against and he has his brothers to help him,'' she said. ''But when you're here in this war, you don't know exactly who you're fighting against, and there's no cause to do what people are doing, which is killing.''

Plus here, criminals have more rights than the honest citizen.

CHECK OUT SMITH AND WESSONS NEWEST HAND GUN... IT IS A .50 CALIBER 5 SHOOTER. PUT A COUPLE OF ROUNDS IN THESE SO CALL STREET TUFFS AND I BET THE ALL GO BACK TO LA. I JUST BOUGHT ONE AND TOOK SHOOTING LESSONS WITH IT. IT HAS A HECK OF A KICK, BUT I FEEL LIKE JOHN HOLMES WHEN I WHIP IT OUT!

Demanding: every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church; markets the cost; in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; Of every workers, consumers, and taxpayers living (including pension and health care); enabling parents to love, nurse, nurture, discipline, protect, and provide for every child (job) they conceive; and fund schools, infrastructure, national security, government services, and etc.; with money derived from wages or independent business profit.
And elect candidates for public office; with copyright; founded on demands; of Natural Law: what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world, God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
And STOP scamming, Fathers disqualified for affirmative action with white skin, Union workers, and consumers, taxpayers, and Americas grandchildren’s children; to fund all stimulus packages, property tax abatement, tax incentives, tax credit, tax refunds, and tax exemptions; with money derived from wages or independent business profit.
To fund; unemployed workers, casino, lottery, and keno losers, aliens, waitresses that pander for life for $2.00 per hour; insubordinate, low-income; defiant of realities demands; volunteers without wages; nonunion parasites willing to work for fewer wages than they can afford life; paying; for the more stock dividends (money); Human Beings cannot digest; Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders (money marketers); market quarterly; in the wholesale and retail price of EVERY product and service; Human Beings use for life; and government needs to build, maintain, and operate schools; infrastructure; and provide government services; and national security; that gets ONLY product or service; would go a long way; to reducing crime; and make life in the USA AFFORDABLE!

Nellie and Vince my prayers are with you and your son.

@Loren Eberly,

Your post made my eyes and head hurt. Could you condense that and tell me what you were saying?

@Loren Eberly.... what up with always writting a novel for every post ? that usually has little to do with the article??

dduckster- ease off the capslock. Also a fool and his money are soon parted. a .50cal sidearm is worthless. No sane, stable person would consider one anything other than a novelty. A novelty to expensive to waste money on.

Loren- TL;DR ( which means "too long; didn't read )

What a great time to lay off cops and paramedics.

Well I for one have no problem with my property tax being raised say $200 a year to save the jobs of the police and fire.

Whos with me?? Lets get a petition signed and then they can just raise property tax and save the jobs.

anyone...anyone...Bueller, Bueller........

For all you newbies that dont know Loren Eberly,,she has a code in that writing of hers.no one cant quite get it.just do as we do and overlook it:-)

Johnboy, open carry is idotic at best. All that will do is cause panic and flood the station with 9-1-1 calls, when a REAL emergency call may be missed.

Nellie Taylor, the airmans mother said;''There's a war right here, a war right here in this city that we must attend to, that we need to do something about,'' Nellie Taylor said.

John Boy;Bob Dyer should do an article reminding Akron Citizens about Ohio's open carry law. You don't need a CCW unless you wish to conceal. If you are allowed to own a handgun in Ohio, you are allowed to open carry it on the hip, like a policeman. Most people aren't aware of the law. Neither are many Police Officers. Bob could let everyone know with his column. Strap on your holster, the old west is here and the outlaws are needing tended to.

I'm going to catch hell for this but John Boy is correct and when some of these punks try to rob someone carrying and get blown away, maybe the other scumbags will get the idea.
What a disgrace for Akron, running a close second to Cleveland for shootings.

Someone HAS to know who's car that is..They have to.So whoever does,big a big person and go turn them in.Easy.You'll be rewarded in the long run.

@Reality
Now,that was easy to come up with,wonder why the city never thought of that?? Very nice of you to say tho,not a lot of people think like you do.

=====================================

Thunder31
Akron, Oh

Posted 05:52 PM, 09/24/2009 Johnboy, open carry is idotic at best. All that will do is cause panic and flood the station with 9-1-1 calls, when a REAL emergency call may be missed.

=========================================

LOL Thats why I said Bob Dyer should do an article about it since most citizens and even some police departments are unaware of the law. If everyone knew, there wouldn't be a panic. Educate the public that they have a right to open carry, especially now, with crime so bad and cops getting laid off.

If this brave young man did not have PTSD before, I think it's safe to say he's going to now thanks to our safe streets. Hopefully with a lot of support, he can live a normal life at some point.

Open carry was a common practice when I lived in Arizona. Worked there. It should be able to work here.

Sounds like it's a matter of letting everyone know what the law is. Especialy the police.

Loren Eberly:

If poverty creates crime, then every poor person must be a criminal, right? That doesn't make sense.

Thanks for giving these worthless criminals an excuse.

to idle worship;
dont blame the parents, our government has taken our right to punish our children for wrong doing. We aren't allowed to spank, if you put a child in his/her room for any length of time you are abusing them, send them to bed without dinner? not unless you want to go to jail so blame the government and tell them we want our right to raise our children right!!

Where are these teenagers' parents!? What the double hockey sticks were they doing out at 2:20 a.m. !!?? Isn't there a curfew?

Pamela, you hit the nail on the head with that statement. It seems the speech czars at the Akron Beacon Urinal, oops Akron Beacon Journal, did not like my remarks about CSB and deleted my previous reply to you.

@thunderhead31
Open carry has been legal in Ohio for 5 years now.
What panic and flood are you refering too?

A reader commented on the earlier article about how we are partly responsible for the failure of our politicians to address the crime in this city.
He or she pointed out how we vote for a particular
politician for all the wrong reasons.How our own self-serving desires clouds our moral obligation to vote for the best person we can.I believe this totally.We have blinded ourselves and condoned bad judgment of our leaders to protect one certain issue we want protected in our lives or issues we know they will support in the future.
A vicious dictator could run for office but if he believes in something we want in our lives we vote
for him.That's exactly what we have in many cities around us.Baltimore is a cesspool with a mayor
that has a proven criminal record.But she is an African American woman and gets nearly the entire
African American vote anyway.We have a lot of that
in Akron. We have become comfortable with business as usual and always voting for democrats and incumbents and keeping qualified people from running because they know they wont get the votes
We are to blame .

I'm with Idle Worship.....maybe if the parents became responsible for their children under 18 like going to jail, there wouldn't be as much crime! I would beat the blood out of one of my kids if I had to go to jail for something they did......

The local curfew is worthless just like coming home when the street lights came on......I'm going to say a prayer for Vince and his family before I go to bed. Those thugs will get theirs eventually.....

I would just like to say thanks to those who have and are serving our country! I worry about our men and women at war and truth is there is a war in our own backyards.

I look at the photograph in the article and I really believe I see a young man that wants to do right and parents that want to see that he does.

A young African American man that isn’t wearing a hoody or a skull cap.That volunteered to serve his country, more importantly I believe he did volunteer to give himself a better start to life.

I don’t judge his actions the night of the incident. He has fought for his country,he is
still young, he will make some decisions that aren’t always the best .

He is very much like everyone of us at that age. We partied,we drank we ……

That’s what the young of the past did.
But this is not what all the young of today do. They stalk,they kill ,they rob

They don’t marry they just make babies, and we condone it everyday

Many readers suggested a return to the draft into the military as they leave high school.

Our Governor suggests changing the drinking law to accommodate eighteen year olds to drink and gamble at Ohio’s up and coming casinos.

And we now wonder how turning a blind eye to nearly everything,we arrived at this point in society.

My son is grown now and has his own family. He just barely squeaked through
the worst time in Akron’s history. He became a man just about the time this city and this nation started reaping what it has sown.

I never apologize for believing in a creator that is far smarter then me.

But I believe that this nations leaders and our cities leaders will never apologize for NOT believing in something more knowledgeable then them.

We readers for one day seem pretty united in being tired of this, with little bickering
or name calling and truly wanting to have something done and holding the people responsible
for allowing it to happen to come to their senses and do something

My Son is a Airman also and also Vince's Friend. My heart goes out to his family and I'll be praying that they get the little bums(trying to be nice since this is posted ) Vince Thank you and God Bless

Maybe people and leadership will finally admit that..

The All America City award and seal is as useless
a symbol of greatness ,as the Nobel Peace Prize is to humanity.

What ever happened to the efforts to train and implement Guardian Angels patrols on Akron's streets?

Oh. I see. I guess the City supporting that would amount to admitting there is a problem.

This is an abomination. Will be praying for this decent young man to fully recover.

a beret is a beret, not a "barret" c'mon ABJ

@Pamela & fedup2...blame "the government" so you don't have to take responsibility for your parenting, really?!

Parents/guardians of minors convicted of a crime should have to do community service.

SL- "community service" ha ha. These scumbags parents have never worked a day in their worthless lives. Can you imagine how miserable it would be to have to supervise a bunch of fat ghetto queens picking up garbage on the side of the road. The constant complaining, ebonics chatter. You know one would pass out and need an ambulance. I would so pity that officer.

These people are nothing but a drain on the public with every breath they draw.

Something has to be done.

Realityetc.,
Community Service is something.

Is it time to call in the National Guard to take care of ongoing neighborhood roach problems.

Its time to make parents responsible for their children.Plus its time to teach them to use condoms instead of having 6 or 8 children that WE take care of,and they raise them til they are "grown"..Children arent dogs,you just dont teach them the fundamentals then toss them aside.You have to teach them respect,and of course you yourself have to have some before you can teach it.
The punks that shot this poor guy as they were driving away ,just showed what kind of a man he really is,a wimp!

None of these cities are worth 2 cents!!! Ugh, this outrages me!

what do you mean by none of these cities?

Any updates on Vincent? Get well soon young man.

Akron, OH has nothing on the crime in Phoenix, AZ.

I learned about this from my son who was with Vince all through training in the Airforce. Vince is highly respected at Moody AFB and his fellow troops are sick over this! As a mother, I can't imagine the strenght of her foregiveness. If ANYONE knows his family, please send them my greatest sympathies and I am praying for thier son! God Bless!