AKRON, Ohio — Airbnb has responded to the first of two lawsuits filed against the company after last year’s deadly shooting at a Bath Township party, claiming it did not violate any zoning regulations nor was it negligent.
The shooting happened on Nov. 2, 2025, at a residence in the 900 block of Top of the Hill Drive. The home had been rented as a short-term Airbnb property and was hosting a large birthday party that was advertised on multiple social media platforms, drawing a significant crowd. One of the guests, 18-year-old Elijah Wells of Akron, died four days later from injuries sustained in the shooting.
The lawsuit against Airbnb, as well as the party organizers and property owner, was filed by guest Brooklyn Diener, who says she was shot multiple times during the incident. Diener added that she “suffered severe and permanent physical and psychological injuries, required emergency medical treatment and hospitalization, and continues to suffer pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other damages.”…