TOLEDO, Ohio — One year after a stray bullet killed 26-year-old Cole Lepkowski outside a west Toledo Airbnb party, his family is speaking publicly for the first time about their loss and a new legal effort they hope will bring accountability.
The family has expanded its wrongful death lawsuit to include Airbnb, alleging the company, along with the property’s owner, could have prevented the events that led to Lepkowski’s death. The criminal case remains unsolved.
Lepkowski died on June 29, 2025, when he and his fiancé, Andrew Price, were driving home from Taco Bell to their house on West Lincolnshire Boulevard. According to Toledo police, the couple was not attending the large party taking place at the Airbnb on their street when gunfire erupted. A stray bullet struck Lepkowski in the back of the head.
11 Investigates first uncovered that the Airbnb where the party occurred was not registered with the city of Toledo during its investigation into Lepkowski’s death. At the time, 11 Investigates also found the city’s enforcement of its short-term rental registry was largely complaint-driven.
More than a year later, no arrests have been made.
His parents, Amy and Mark Lepkowski, said they continue to grieve the loss of their son while waiting for answers.
“He was kind of a larger-than-life person. He was very funny, very loud. He liked to laugh and dance and sing. He was always authentically himself,” Amy Lepkowski said.
Cole was the only son in a family of three sisters. His family remembers him as someone who loved decorating his home, thrifting and spending time with loved ones. Just days before he was killed, he celebrated Father’s Day by having lunch with his father.
“He’d stop over after work. You’re never gonna see him drive up again or go over to the house,” Mark Lepkowski said.
Lawsuit now names Airbnb
The family’s attorney, Chad Tuschman, said the lawsuit has been amended to add Airbnb as a defendant.
“Airbnb is being brought into this lawsuit. This wasn’t a legal short-term rental. If anyone would have done a simple background check on the individual who rented the place, she had gang-related ties,” Tuschman said.
The lawsuit alleges homeowner Jennifer Wolf illegally rented the property as a short-term rental and ignored repeated warnings that the party was getting out of control.
Court documents and Wolf’s civil deposition show neighbors began texting Wolf hours before the shooting, warning her about the growing crowd and activity at the house. Wolf testified in a deposition for the civil case that she watched the party through backyard security cameras while she was out of town, but never contacted police.
Those allegations build on reporting by 11 Investigates last year, which found neighbors became alarmed as the crowd swelled to roughly 80 people and vehicles lined both sides of West Lincolnshire Boulevard. Neighbors told 11 Investigates they initially believed the gathering was a graduation party or birthday celebration before it became increasingly disruptive.
“Jennifer Wolf was aware of what was going on. The neighbors started texting her. She was monitoring the situation through a camera. She never called the police,” Tuschman said.
The lawsuit seeks to hold Wolf and Airbnb responsible for Lepkowski’s death. It won’t determine who fired the fatal shot but instead asks a jury to decide whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
“She fully admitted that she could have called the police and failed to do so,” Tuschman said.
‘He was very nervous’
Amy Lepkowski said her son sensed something wasn’t right that evening.
One of Cole’s sisters had been at his home while the party was underway.
“She came home and said he was very nervous, very upset because of this party that was going on down the street,” Amy Lepkowski said.
About 20 minutes later, Amy received a phone call she thought would bring happy news.
“I thought the phone call was gonna be them telling me they had picked their wedding venue,” she said. “That was not the phone call that we received.”
Family still searching for answers
Mark Lepkowski, who spent decades in law enforcement, said he understands homicide investigations can take time but believes someone already has information that could help solve the case.
“Somebody’s gotta have something on their phone that they can turn in and help us, help the case,” he said.
Despite her grief, Amy Lepkowski said she refuses to let anger define her son’s legacy.
“Every day I have to get up and make a choice. Cole wouldn’t want hate and anger to be the undertow of his story,” she said.
Instead, the family’s focus remains on accountability through both the civil lawsuit and the criminal investigation they hope will eventually bring justice.
“Even if it’s something small, somebody does know something. They need to be accountable,” Amy Lepkowski said.
Toledo police continue to investigate Lepkowski’s killing. Anyone with information is asked to call or text Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
The wrongful death lawsuit against homeowner Jennifer Wolf and Airbnb remains pending in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.
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