The families of two victims from a deadly Bath Township, Ohio, Airbnb shooting have filed a lawsuit against the homeowner, Airbnb, party organizers, and three suspects.
The shooting happened around midnight on Nov. 2, 2025, at a rental home in the 900 block of Top of the Hill Road, according to 19 News. Bath Township police said seven people were shot and three others were injured.
Elijah Wells, 18, of Akron, was struck multiple times and died from his injuries on Nov. 6, 2025. The new lawsuit was filed by Wells’ family and the family of another injured teen.
The case now raises a property question for short term rental owners, neighbors, and communities: what happens when a rental home becomes the site of a large unauthorized party, injuries, police response, and later civil claims?
The Lawsuit Targets The Rental Setup
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The lawsuit names the property owner, Airbnb, party organizers, and the three suspects.
WKYC reported that the lawsuit claims Airbnb, the homeowner, and party organizers ignored Bath Township’s ban on short term rentals. Those claims have not been decided in court.
Local zoning, platform rules, guest limits, party restrictions, and neighbor complaints can all become part of the record after something goes wrong at a property.
Police Said The Party Drew Hundreds
Investigators estimated that 250 to 300 people attended the birthday party. Police believe a large group of teenagers arrived after the event was promoted through a social media post.
Soon after, officers said multiple shots were fired into the home.
Two adult suspects, Derquan Edwards and Jashawn Stewart, were indicted on multiple charges and are scheduled for trial on Jan. 11, 2027. A 16-year-old also faces juvenile charges.
Airbnb Says Disruptive Parties Are Banned
Airbnb’s community policy says open invite parties, disruptive gatherings, excessive noise, excessive trash, trespassing, parking nuisances, neighborhood vandalism, serious injuries, and reckless behavior are not allowed during reservations.
The Associated Press previously reported that Airbnb suspended the property listing and removed the renter’s account after the Bath Township shooting.
Short term rental owners should know the local rules before listing a property, set clear guest and party limits, monitor complaints quickly, and keep records of bookings, messages, house rules, and emergency contacts. If a rental starts drawing a crowd that was not approved, waiting until police arrive may leave the owner with a much bigger problem than a broken house rule.