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Nine Injured in Bath Township Airbnb Shooting, Company Responds with Enhanced AI Anti-Party Measures
BATH TOWNSHIP, OH – Nine individuals sustained injuries in a shooting incident at an Airbnb rental property in Bath Township on Sunday. The incident prompted a swift response from local law enforcement and a statement from Airbnb, which expressed its condolences and outlined actions taken against the booking individual.
Bath Township Police Chief Vito Sinopoli confirmed the shooting, noting it was the second such incident at an Airbnb property in the township since July 2017. The previous event, described as a drive-by shooting at a party, resulted in one person being shot in the leg.
Airbnb issued a statement to ABC News, expressing heartbreak over the “senseless act of gun violence.” The company affirmed that “unauthorized and disruptive gatherings are strictly prohibited on Airbnb” and stated that its Safety team immediately removed the account of the individual who booked the stay and violated these rules. Airbnb’s law enforcement response team is reportedly in contact with Chief Sinopoli to assist with the ongoing investigation.
This incident occurred just days after Airbnb announced the rollout of new AI-powered “anti-party” technology across the United States and Canada. This technology, utilizing machine learning, is designed to identify and block bookings that exhibit potential party risks. Factors considered include the length of the reservation, the distance between the listing and the guest’s location, the property type, and the timing of the booking, particularly last-minute requests.
This marks the fifth consecutive year Airbnb has implemented special protections to curb Halloween-night parties. Last year, these measures prevented 38,000 individuals in the U.S. and 6,300 in Canada from booking properties.
The company enacted a permanent global party ban in 2022 following a series of shooting incidents. At the time, Airbnb emphasized that “strong policies must be complemented by strong enforcement,” highlighting its ongoing efforts to prevent unauthorized parties and address chronic party houses.