Connette Long’s granddaughter avoided house parties — there was too much of a chance something could go wrong.
But 18-year-old La’Shae Ellis loved to dance, Long said, and went to a party in Akron’s Summit Lake neighborhood to do just that. Ellis’ aunt, Jonnette Long, remembered commenting on one of the teen’s Instagram posts about her costume, telling her how beautiful she was, and to be safe.
Less than an hour later, La’Shae was shot and killed — two other teens were injured — after a fight broke out at the party on Oct. 26, 2024. Her death was one of two fatal shootings in the city that weekend…