Ohio Man Faces Aggravated Murder Charges After Mother And Twelve Year Old Son Killed In Akron Shooting

Brandon Casto faces aggravated murder charges after a mother and her 12-year-old son were fatally shot in Akron, Ohio, over the weekend.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 4:27 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from KCRG

A Tragic Night On Akron Streets

The Akron Police Department has initiated a double homicide investigation following a violent encounter that left a family devastated on Saturday evening. Officers were dispatched to the scene shortly before 8:15 p.m. after receiving several emergency calls, including a desperate report from a woman stating she had been shot. Upon arrival, first responders discovered a chaotic scene involving a vehicle that had crashed into a tree and was partially engulfed in flames. Inside the wreckage, authorities found a 12 year old boy who had sustained fatal gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.

The Final Act of a Dying Mother

The driver of the vehicle, identified as the 12 year old’s mother, was also suffering from critical gunshot injuries when police reached the crash site. Despite her wounds, investigators report that she was able to provide crucial information to detectives before being transported to the Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center. While she eventually succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, her final statements allowed law enforcement to quickly identify 28 year old Brandon Casto as the primary suspect. A two year old boy was also discovered inside the vehicle, miraculously uninjured, and was taken to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure.

A Search Warrant Reveals Extensive Weaponry

Armed with the identification provided by the victim, Akron detectives executed a search warrant at an apartment linked to Casto. Inside the residence, investigators uncovered what they described as a significant collection of firearms, tactical accessories, and a large volume of ammunition. According to police reports, the sheer scale of the weaponry found at the site has added a layer of complexity to the investigation as they work to determine if any of the recovered guns were used in the Saturday night shooting. The physical evidence seized from the apartment is currently undergoing forensic analysis to establish a definitive link to the crime scene.