Craig Alan Sipe, a 63-year-old Akron man, turned himself in to police on Sunday and has been charged with one count of aggravated murder after a 61-year-old female instructor was shot inside the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium and later died at a hospital. Sipe allegedly walked into the recreation facility on 4th Street around 9:30 a.m. Sunday, October 18, targeted a single victim, and then fled the area before surrendering to Cuyahoga Falls police.
TL;DR: A Sunday morning shooting at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium left a 61-year-old instructor dead after she was taken to Summa Health System’s Akron campus with gunshot wounds. Police say Sipe targeted a single victim in what is believed to be a domestic-related incident, then turned himself in. He is being held at the Summit County Jail and was scheduled to be arraigned Monday, October 19. The Natatorium was closed Sunday and Monday.
A Quiet Sunday Morning Shattered
According to the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, Sipe entered the Natatorium in the early morning and shot the instructor. The medical examiner’s office said he entered the building at around 9:30 a.m. Sipe targeted a single victim before fleeing the area, according to a news release from the department, and police said the incident is believed to be domestic-related.
The woman who was shot was taken to Summa Health System’s Akron campus, where she later died of her injuries, according to city officials. Her identity has not been publicly released. She was 61 years old and worked as an instructor at the facility.
City officials later confirmed that Sipe turned himself in to Cuyahoga Falls police. He was charged with one count of aggravated murder and is being held at the Summit County Jail. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, October 19. The homicide case remains under investigation, and police said additional information would be released as it becomes available.
Who Is Craig Alan Sipe?
Sipe, 63, is from Akron. He was the owner of The Brooklands Speakeasy at 363 The Brooklands Ave. in Akron, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. A social media post made in July 2025 stated that the bar was “temporarily closed,” and no further posts were made after that.
Police have not publicly described any relationship between Sipe and the victim, beyond saying the shooting is believed to be domestic-related and that Sipe targeted a single victim. No motive has been officially released. Sipe has been charged, not convicted; he remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
A Community in Shock
The shooting stunned Cuyahoga Falls, a city whose Natatorium is a central community hub on 4th Street. The facility was closed for the remainder of Sunday and on Monday.
The city canceled its City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m. Public hearings, committee meetings, and related council business were rescheduled for October 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Natatorium.
The city also announced it is partnering with the Summit County Victim Assistance Program to offer support to anyone affected by Sunday’s shooting. An open community drop-in support session will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, in the Erie Room of the Natatorium. Representatives from the Victim Assistance Program will be available to provide support and connect individuals with additional resources. People do not need to have witnessed the incident to attend.
Additional support is available at any time through the Summit County Victim Assistance Program’s 24/7 Crisis Intervention Hotline. Community members can call or text 330-376-0040, or visit victimassistanceprogram.org.
What Aggravated Murder Means in Ohio
In Ohio, aggravated murder is the most serious homicide charge, typically reserved for killings with prior calculation and design or killings committed under specific aggravating circumstances. It carries the potential for the state’s most severe penalties, including life in prison without parole or the death penalty, depending on the circumstances and prosecutorial decisions.
Sipe’s arraignment on Monday will be his first court appearance, where the charge will be formally read and a plea entered. As the investigation continues, prosecutors will determine how to proceed with the case.
Source: Akron Beacon Journal (reporting on the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department news release)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Craig Alan Sipe?
Craig Alan Sipe is a 63-year-old Akron man charged with one count of aggravated murder in the October 18 shooting at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium. He was the owner of The Brooklands Speakeasy in Akron.
What happened at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium?
On Sunday morning, October 18, Sipe allegedly entered the Natatorium on 4th Street around 9:30 a.m. and shot a 61-year-old female instructor. She was taken to Summa Health System’s Akron campus, where she died of her injuries.
Did the suspect turn himself in?
Yes. After fleeing the scene, Sipe later turned himself in to the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, according to city officials.
What is Craig Sipe charged with?
Sipe has been charged with one count of aggravated murder. He is being held at the Summit County Jail and was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, October 19.
Was the shooting domestic-related?
According to a news release from the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, the incident is believed to be domestic-related. Police have not released further details about the relationship between Sipe and the victim.
Has the victim been identified?
As of the latest reports, the victim’s identity had not been publicly released. She was described as a 61-year-old female instructor at the Natatorium.
Is the Natatorium open?
The Natatorium was closed for the remainder of Sunday and on Monday following the shooting.
What support is available for the community?
The city is partnering with the Summit County Victim Assistance Program for a drop-in support session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, in the Natatorium’s Erie Room. The program’s 24/7 Crisis Intervention Hotline is 330-376-0040.
