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PEOA, Summit County — A man who allegedly used an AK-47 during a shootout between two groups at a large party in May has been arrested.
Jose Carlos Mendez-Villa, 25, was booked into the Summit County Jail on Thursday for investigation of five counts of shooting a gun causing injury.
Mendez-Villa's arrest is the latest stemming from the May 19 incident at a large residence in Peoa that sits on nearly 450 acres of land and can be rented out for events. On that night, investigators say several hundred people were attending a party on the property when two groups got into a fight. That led to a shootout outside the residence, which was captured on several security cameras.
"The video shows multiple adult males open fire on a group of party attendees with various types of handguns and one AK-47 style gun. Multiple victims and witnesses were identified who knew the shooters personally from past interactions and disputes," according to a police booking affidavit.
Mendez-Villa was identified from the videos as one of the shooters, police say.
"Carlos can be seen shooting an AK-47 style weapon toward a group of involved individuals from behind the front of a vehicle," the affidavit states. "Security video shows Mendez physically assaulting other involved parties, then is later seen firing at the same individuals."
Detectives served a search warrant at Mendez-Villa's residence, where several firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories were seized.
At least two people suffered injuries that were not life-threatening at the party, and at least five others have been arrested.
