Police: 5 children shot, 11-year-old dead in shooting in Cincinnati’s West End

Police: 5 children shot, 11-year-old dead in shooting in Cincinnati’s West End

An 11-year-old boy has died, and five more people have been injured after a shooting in the West End on Friday night, according to Cincinnati police.

Updated: 3:37 PM EST Nov 5, 2023

BREAKING NEWS THIS AFTERNOON AFTER AN 11 YEAR OLD BOY WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE WEST END IN A SHOOTING FRIDAY NIGHT THAT INJURED FIVE OTHERS. CITY OFFICIALS ARE HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE. LET’S LISTEN IN. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. IT’S BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT AND TRAGIC WEEKEND HERE IN CINCINNATI. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THE WEST END COMMUNITY WAS SHAKEN TO ITS CORE BY A SICKENING, AN UNACCEPTABLE TRAGEDY IN A VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND RIGHT NEXT TO A LOCAL PARK, JUST A WALK FROM A HISTORIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SIX RESIDENTS WERE SHOT AND FIVE OF THE VICTIMS WERE CHILDREN. AN 11 YEAR OLD BOY WAS KILLED. AND ONE OF THE OTHER FIVE VICTIMS REMAINS IN TREATMENT AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL. THIS COMMUNITY, A COMMUNITY FULL OF LIFE AND ENERGY, IS NOW FOREVER CHANGED. SO SINCE THE SHOOTING, WE SPENT TIME WITH RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CITY MANAGER AND I AND THE CHIEF YESTERDAY AND TODAY. AND THE OVERWHELM MESSAGE THAT WE HAVE HEARD IS ONE OF UNIMAGINABLE TRAUMA. ALMOST EVERY DOOR WE KNOCKED HAD CHILDREN LIVING IN THE HOME. THE WEST END IS A COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES OF YOUNG KIDS. CHILDREN WHO GREW UP WITH AND WENT TO SCHOOL WITH A VICTIM WHO CALLED THE SAME STREETS, PARKS AND HOME AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE KIND OF SHOCK AND LOSS THAT NEVER LEAVES YOU FOLKS DIDN’T FEEL SAFE LEAVING THEIR HOME YESTERDAY AND THIS MORNING THEY WERE SHOUTING MESSAGES OF LOVE AND SUPPORT TO EACH OTHER THROUGH OPEN WINDOWS, BUT THEY WERE TOO WARY TO GO OUTSIDE AND THEY WERE FEELING SHATTERED BY THE REALITY THAT A CHILD WHOSE ONLY CONCERN IN LIFE SHOULD BE PLAYING AND LEARNING AND GROWING COULD BE TAKEN FROM US BECAUSE A DEADLY WEAPON WAS ON THEIR COMMUNITY STREETS. BUT EVEN IN THIS TRAGEDY, THE WEST END EMBODIES LOVE AND HOPE AND GRACE TO EVERYONE GRAPPLING WITH THE TRAUMA OF THIS TRAGEDY, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU NOW, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE FOR YOU. I CAN’T EXPRESS THIS EMPHATICALLY ENOUGH. MY APPRECIATION FOR EVERYONE WHO STEPPED UP IMMEDIATELY TO SUPPORT THOSE IN CRISIS, TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN GROWING THROUGH THIS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR HOMICIDE DETECTIVES WHO HAVE BASICALLY NOT STOPPED AND NOT SLEPT SINCE FRIDAY NIGHT. THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO ARE ALWAYS THERE, ALWAYS DAY AND NIGHT WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE GOING THROUGH THE WORST OF IT. THEY HAVE THE ETERNAL GRATITUDE OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR ONCE AGAIN SERVING WITH DETERMINATION, ALLEN AND DIGNITY THROUGH THESE HORRIFYING EVENTS. AND I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE THAT JUSTICE WILL BE THE DELIVERED TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR ADMINISTRATION AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE IMMEDIATELY STEPPED UP INTO ACTION. I WANT TO REITERATE HOW OVERWHELMINGLY THANKFUL I AM THAT WE HAVE A TEAM WHO WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO BE THERE FOR THE WEST END. HOWEVER, THAT WE CAN. 22 ROUNDS WERE FIRED. 22 ROUNDS. IN A MOMENT. INTO A CROWD OF KIDS. NO TIME TO RESPOND, NO TIME TO REACT. THAT IS THE REALITY THAT THESE KIDS HAD TO LIVE THROUGH AND THE REALITY AND THE TRAUMA THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE EACH OF US HAS TO BE ALL IN. AND I ASSURE YOU THAT THAT WE WILL BE RIGHT NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. AND UNTIL WE PUT A STOP TO THIS SENSELESS, THIS UNACCEPTABLE VIOLENCE. I’LL NOW BRING UP CITY MANAGER SHAW LONG TO DISCUSS WHAT’S NEXT. GOOD AFTERNOON. LIKE THE MAYOR, I’M HEARTBROKEN AND APPALLED AT THE VIOLENCE. WE’RE EXPERIENCED THIS WEEKEND. FRANKLY, I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. WHILE NO ONE EXPECTED THIS TO SEE THE NEWS THAT BROKE ON FRIDAY NIGHT, I WANT TO STRESS SOMETHING. THIS IS NOT AN ACT OF GOD. THIS IS NOT A NATURAL DISASTER. THE DEVASTATION, THE HARM AND THE LOSS OF LIFE ARE A SHOCK TO US ALL. BUT THEY STEM FROM ACTIONS OF REAL PEOPLE AND THEY ENABLED BY ACCESS TO GUNS AS CITY MANAGER, I WILL WORK TIRELESSLY WITH CPD AND ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO BRING THE PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE. BUT EVEN AS I MAKE THIS PROMISE, I RECOGNIZE THAT IT’S NOT ENOUGH. IF VIOLENCE LIKE THIS CANNOT NOT BE OUR STATUS QUO, IT CANNOT BE TOLERATED IN THE CITY OF CINCINNATI, I WANT TO SAY THANK ALL OF THE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WERE ON THE SCENE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THIS CASE. WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE PHYSICAL DANGER THAT OFFICERS FACE IN A LINE OF DUTY, BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TOLL THAT RESPONDING TO A CRIME LIKE THIS CAN HAVE TO ALL OF OUR OFFICERS, AS MY ADMINISTRATION IS HERE FOR YOU AND THE STRESS AND ANGUISH THAT YOU FEEL IS JUST AS VALID AS ANY PHYSICAL HARM THAT THREATENS YOUR WELL-BEING. OUR ENTIRE CITY IS GRIEVING THE INJURY AND LIFE LOSS IN THE WEST END. WE ARE BEWILDERED, FURIOUS AND HEARTBROKEN THAT CHILDREN OF CINCINNATI ARE NOT SAFE FROM DEADLY USE OF GUNS. I MYSELF HAVE LOST A FAMILY MEMBER TO GUN VIOLENCE AND THE HORROR. OF A LIFE TAKEN SO QUICKLY IS SOMETHING I WILL NEVER TRULY COMPREHEND. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SWIFTLY REACT TO VIOLENCE AND WE WILL REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT ITS ROOT CAUSE. OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY RELIES ON DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING INTERVENTIONS THAT TARGET VIOLENCE. WITHOUT EXAGGERATION IN EXAGGERATING IT AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITY TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORS SAFE IN THE WEST END, WHICH IS SEEING DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH LEVELS OF GUN VIOLENCE. WE KNOW THAT TRAGIC, TRAGIC OUTCOMES STEM FROM MUCH MORE COMPLEX QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. OUR PIVOT PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACH, WHICH USES FAST PLACE BASED INTERVENTIONS TO DISRUPT VIOLENCE, HAS BEEN USED TO CURB SHOOTINGS IN THE WEST END AND OTHER TARGET AREAS IN THE CITY. THE COLLABORATIVE PIVOT TEAM MEETS BIWEEKLY TO WORK ON PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE. AT THEIR NEXT MEETING IS AT LINCOLN REC CENTER THIS WEDNESDAY AT 10 A.M. I INVITE ANYONE TO ATTEND WHO WANTS TO HELP OR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY’S EFFORTS TO COMBAT VIOLENCE. THE CITY HAS ACTIVE INTERVENTIONS ALREADY DEPLOYED. OUR APPROACH IN THE WEST END INCLUDES SEVERAL MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION INTO A CONCENTRATED AREA OF CRIME OF LIVINGSTON AND JOHN STREET, WHICH RESULTED IN THE FILING OF A PUBLIC NUISANCE ACTION AGAINST A LIQUOR STORE THAT WAS LATER CLOSED. OUR CPD OFFICERS ALSO PARTNERED WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND PHYSICAL CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE TO REDUCE VIOLENCE. AND RECOGNIZING THAT THE AREA HAS EXPERIENCED REPEATED SHOOTINGS, CPD HAS ALLOCATED OVER TIME TO INCREASE POLICE OFFICER VISIBILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS ABOUT REGULAR STAFFING LEVELS TO BOLSTER THESE EFFORTS AND DIRECTLY RESPOND TO THE HORRIFIC EVENTS ON FRIDAY EVENING, WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A TEAM OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO WEST END RESIDENTS DEEPLY INVOLVED. AND KEY TO THIS STRATEGY WILL BE KAREN RUMSEY AND OUR AMAZING VICTIM SERVICE TEAM AT CPD. THEY WILL BE GOING DOOR TO DOOR IN THE WEST END IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP GROUP AT CITY WEST TO GET HELP TO ANY AND ALL RESIDENTS WHO NEED IT. THE YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE SENSELESS VIOLENCE AS A PRIORITY. OUR WORKING GROUP WORKING GROUP WILL ALSO BE IN SCHOOLS ON MONDAY, INCLUDING HAYES PORTER AND ELEMENTARY TAFT HIGH SCHOOL AND KPA, AS WELL AS LINCOLN REC CENTER. EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE IS UNTHINKABLE. CRUELTY TO INFLICT ON YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WHEN KIDS LOSE THEIR LIVES TO SENSELESS KILLINGS, WE NEED TO EMBRACE OUR CHILDREN WITH EVERY MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE WE HAVE AVAILABLE. OUR PARTNERS IN THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE TALBOT HOUSE, THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS CINCY RECREATION COMMISSION AND CINCY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I WANT TO EXTEND AN ENORMOUS THANKS TO EACH OF THESE PARTNERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN JUST WITH THE CITY AT THE TABLE. IT IS GOING TO TAKE COLLABORATION. ALLEN. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF THE CITY’S HUMAN SERVICES TEAM. DIRECTOR DEANNA WHITE, BROOKE LIPSCOMB, AND THE SUPPORT FROM ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER VIRGINIA TALENT. WE NEED DECISIVE ACTIONS LIKE THESE IN THE WAKE OF TRAGEDY. BUT REACTING TO THE PROBLEM WILL NEVER SOLVE IT. WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE. WE NEED TO BE DILIGENT, AND WE NEED TO BE COLLABORATIVE. AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. AGAIN, WE’VE BEEN SAYING THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IF YOU HAVE A GUN, YOU NEED TO STORE IT SAFELY. YOU NEED TO STORE IT SAFELY. THAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. CPD WILL GIVE YOU A GUN LOCK FOR FREE, SO THERE’S NO EXCUSE AS THE GUN VIOLENCE PROBLEM STARTS WITH GUNS THEMSELVES. IF YOU OWN A FIREARM, IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE WRONG HANDS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. FINALLY, WE WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE WATCHING AND LISTENING THAT VIOLENCE DOES NOT DEFINE US. CINCINNATI IS WELCOMING. CINCINNATI IS VIBRANT AND CINCINNATI IS STRONGER THAN WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER. TRAGIC EVENTS LIKE THIS SHOCK US. THEY MAKE US ANGRY AND DISMAYED, BUT THEY ALSO PUSH US TOWARD ACTION. PLEASE TAKE A STAND TO STOP THE KILLING. IF YOU OWN A GUN, LOCK IT UP. IF YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR WHERE THE GUNS ARE, TELL CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT. IF YOU HAVE IDEAS, IF YOU HAVE SOLUTIONS IS LIKE WE’VE BEEN DOING. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IF WE WORK TOGETHER. THANK YOU. CITY MANAGER LONG AND NOW AN UPDATE ON THE INVESTIGATION. A CHIEF OF POLICE. THERESA THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I’VE STOOD HERE AT THIS PODIUM BEFORE. MANY OF YOU, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, NONE OF THEM, IN MY OPINION, ARE AS SIGNIFICANT, IS WHAT WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. THE FACTS THAT I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU SHOULD BE EXTREMELY SHOCKING TO ANYBODY’S CONSCIENCE. IF THEY’RE NOT, THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG. I DON’T CARE HOW FAR OR NEAR. YOU LIVE FROM THE WEST END COMMUNITY, YOU SHOULD BE APPALLED AT WHAT HAPPENED FRIDAY NIGHT. NOW, FOR THE FACTS OF THE INCIDENT ON NOVEMBER THIRD, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 P.M., DISTRICT ONE OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE 700 BLOCK OF BENT DRIVE FOR THE REPORT OF SEVERAL PEOPLE SHOT WHEN THE OFFICERS ARRIVED, THEY LOCATED SIX SHOOTING VICTIMS, SIX SHOOTING VICTIMS, THREE OF THE VICTIMS WERE TRANSPORTED TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER. TWO OF THE VICTIMS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MEDICAL CENTER. AND ONE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED. AT THE SCENE. AS FOR OUR LAST UPDATE, ONLY ONE SHOOTING VICTIM REMAINS HOSPITALIZED AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN STABLE CONDITION. THE DECEASED VICTIM WAS A BLACK MALE, 11 YEARS OLD AND WAS A WEST END RESIDENT AT THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, ALLEN INDICATES THE VICTIMS WERE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF JONES STREET AND BENT DRIVE. WHEN AN OCCUPANT OF A DARK SEDAN FIRED. A 22 ROUNDS IN QUICK SUCCESSION. THE INCIDENT WAS CAPTURED ON OUR SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY. THE SURVIVING VICTIMS, A MALE BLACK 12, A MALE BLACK, 13. A MALE, BLACK, 15. A FEMALE, BLACK, 15 AND A FEMALE BLACK 53. TWO OF THESE JUVENILES ATTENDED CINCINNATI COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY, INCLUDING THE DECEASED. THREE OF THE JUVENILES ATTENDED CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY BEYOND THE FACTS OF THE INCIDENT, MY SINCERE GRATITUDE GOES TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AT THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. I DON’T THINK WE REALIZE HERE IN CINCINNATI THE TALENT AT THOSE HOSPITALS THAT HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS SURVIVE. SO THANK YOU TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO CINCINNATI, FIRE DEPARTMENT. ALSO FIRST RESPONDERS ON THE SCENE WITH OUR OFFICERS AND WHAT THEY HAD TO SEE AND DEAL WITH. THEY WILL CARRY WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR CAREERS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT, MY GRATITUDE IS BEYOND WORDS FOR WHAT YOU HANDLED THAT NIGHT. WHEN I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, MEN AND WOMEN OF CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE DOING THEIR JOB FLAWLESSLY. NOBODY HAD TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO. THEY JUMPED INTO ACTION IMMEDIATELY, AND I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. TO OUR HOMICIDE UNIT. AS THE MAYOR STATED, SINCE FRIDAY EVENING, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ENDLESSLY ON THIS CASE AS THEY WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THEY SOLVE THIS CASE. I KNOW HOW THEY ARE AND I ADMIRE THEIR DEDICATION IN MY CLOSING COMMENT IS TO THE PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS VIOLENT SENSE, THIS VIOLENT ACT. TURN YOURSELF IN, TURN YOURSELF IN. CALL A LOVED ONE. HAVE THEM TURN YOU IN BECAUSE AS IF YOU DON’T, WE WILL FIND YOU AND WE WILL BRING YOU TO JUSTICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF. AND NOW WE ARE HONORED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE DECEASED VICTIM’S FAMILY, ISAAC DAVIS, THE VICTIM’S FATHER IS HERE. LAKEISHA MCFARLAND, THE VICTIM’S MOTHER DIED. ANN JONES, THE GRANDMOTHER, AND KEISHA TUCKER, A LOVED ONE, WILL ASK MR. DAVIS TO PROVIDE A BRIEF REMARK. WHEN WILL IT STOP? WOULD THIS EVER STOP. LIKE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BURY THEIR KIDS? THEY BABIES. THEY LOVED ONES LIKE, LOOK, LOOK AT HIS MOTHER. LOOK AT LOOK AT ME. I MEAN, YOU YOU DON’T YOU’RE NOT GOING TO REALIZE IT UNTIL SOMEONE HAPPEN TO YOUR FAMILY, UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO YOU. I’M JUST ASKING ANYBODY THAT KNOW ANYTHING TO COME FORWARD. PLEASE, JUST PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE’RE BEGGING. I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY, BUT JUST PLEASE COME FORWARD. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE TAKE QUESTIONS, WE’LL EXCUSE THE FAMILY. BUT THAT WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY POSSIBLE LEADS AT THIS POINT AS TO WHO THESE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE WOULD BE. I SPOKE WITH THE HOMICIDE UNIT A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE PRESS CONFERENCE. TIPS AND LEADS ARE COMING IN. THEY WILL FOLLOW UP ON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. BUT AT THIS POINT IN THE INVESTIGATION, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DISCUSS WHERE WE’RE HEADED WITH THE INVESTIGATION AT THIS PICKED UP BY ANY CAMERAS. AGAIN, WE’RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO ANY DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION. THAT’S ALL CRITICAL TYPES OF EVIDENCE THAT THE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS WILL TAKE A LOOK AT. ANY THREAT TO THAT AREA WHERE THE SHOOTING HAPPENED YESTERDAY. THERE WAS A BALLOON RELEASE AND SHORTLY BEFORE IT HAPPENED, PEOPLE WERE RUNNING IN SCATTER. IS THERE ANY THREAT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT? THERE ARE NO CURRENT THREATS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF. WE WILL WORK WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO HELP THEM. IN RESTORING A SENSE OF CALM IN THE WEST END TO THE BEST THAT WE CAN WHILE THIS PERSON IS STILL OUT. SO. SO THEY’RE SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT TO US TO CITY LEADERS, TO DEPARTMENT, POLICE, DEPARTMENT MEMBERS. AND SO WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS SAFE. WHAT SORT OF COMFORT CAN YOU PROVIDE FAMILIES IN THE SHORT TERM WHO ARE TERRIFIED TO HAVE THEIR KIDS OUTSIDE PLAYING ON THE SIDEWALK? UH, IT’S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. THE FATHER OF FOUR YEAR OLD AND A ONE YEAR OLD, AND WHEN THE CITY MANAGER AND I WERE GOING DOOR TO DOOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT HAPPENED, THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE HEARD. THE THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS THEMSELVES WHO WE TALKED TO DON’T FEEL SAFE. AND FRANKLY, CAN’T BLAME THEM. THEY WERE A GROUP OF KIDS PLAYING OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOUSE WHEN A MADMAN CAME BY AND FIRED 22 ROUNDS INTO A GROUP OF KIDS. MY MESSAGE TO THEM, HOWEVER, IS THAT MYSELF, THE CITY MANAGER, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, OUR ENTIRE THE CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT FORCE, WHICH IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD, WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WE FIND THIS PERSON AND BRING THEM TO JUSTICE. AT THE SAME TIME, I’M EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT TO US IS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE WEST END RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS AND KIDS UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. AS A CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCED TOMORROW AT 11 A.M., THE CITY IS DEPLOYING MENTAL HEALTH WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO ANY AND ALL WHO NEED IT. WE’RE COORDINATING WITH THE HAYES PORTER AND CCP AND TAFT, THE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA BECAUSE SO MANY CHILDREN KNEW OF AND PLAYED WITH THE VICTIM. THE TRAUMA THAT WE ARE NOW FORCED AS A COMMUNITY TO DEAL WITH DOES NOT GO AWAY. THE SHOOTING MAY BE OVER FOR, BUT THE TRAUMA IS STILL THERE AND PART OF THAT TRAUMA IS NOT FEELING SAFE IN THEIR HOMES. IT’S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME FOR US AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. TO DO THE WORK NECESSARY TO HEAL THE WOUNDS THAT WE CANNOT SEE. AND ALL I CAN SAY TO THEM IS THAT I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE, FOR I WILL BE THERE FOR THEM. THE CITY MANAGER, THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE CITY FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES. WITH THIS MOST RECENT SHOOTING. YOU KNOW, WE’RE NOW AT A LEVEL OF OF OF SHOOTINGS TARGETING TEENAGERS SPECIFICALLY THAT WE HAVEN’T SEEN IN MORE THAN. THAT’S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW, THE VIOLENCE THAT IS TARGETING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT? THE THE CHIEF OF POLICE WAS BRIEFING US ON THE ON THE NUMBERS. WE DO A BRIEFING EVERY WEEK. BUT BEFORE THE PRESS CONFERENCE, WE DID ANOTHER BRIEFING. AND WHAT IS REALLY NOTABLE IS THAT BECAUSE BECAUSE OF THIS INCREASE IN VIOLENCE AMONGST OUR CHILDREN, WHICH IS NOT UNIQUE TO CINCINNATI, BUT IS COUNTRYWIDE AT THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE NOW HAD TO START TRACKING HOMICIDES AMONGST KIDS. AND THE NUMBERS ARE TERRIFYING AND THEY ARE COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. ALL WE KNOW. WHAT IS THE MOST FRUSTRATING IS WE KNOW THE CAUSES OF THE VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY AMONGST KIDS, AND IT IS ACCESS TO GUNS. 40% OF THE ILLEGAL WEAPONS ON CINCINNATI STREETS COME FROM CARS BEING STOLEN FROM CARS. THAT’S WHY THE CITY MANAGER CONTINUES TO REITERATE, IF YOU ARE A GUN OWNER TO LOCK UP YOUR GUN AND AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN’T GET INTO THE WRONG HANDS, THAT LEADS TO THIS KIND OF TRAGEDY OTHER THAN THE UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY OF GUNS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE INABILITY TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES PEACEFULLY CAN CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE US. WE SEE HEADLINE AFTER HEADLINE OF SOMEONE KNOCKING ON THE WRONG DOOR AND GETTING SHOT, SOMEONE GETTING INTO A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT AND GETTING SHOT. THE INCLINATION TO REACH FOR DEADLY FORCE IMMEDIATELY. NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE INCIDENT IS, IS OVERWHELMING. THE GUN VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING IS NO LONGER CONCENTRATED IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD OR CONCENTRATED AROUND THE DRUG TRADE BECAUSE OF THE UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY OF GUNS. IT IS EVERYWHERE. OUR PARTICULARLY AMONGST OUR KIDS, FROM CITY HALL’S PERSPECTIVE, WE’VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN ON FROM AN ACCESSIBILITY OF GUNS POINT OF VIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PREVENT CRIMINALS FROM GETTING THEIR HANDS ON GUNS. BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ASK FOR AND EXPECT PARTNERSHIP AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL AS WELL. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THIS IS THE NEW REALITY. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THAT THAT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LIVES OF OUR KIDS IN CINCINNATI. THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH AND CHANGE. AND WE ARE PRAYERFUL THAT OUR PARTNERS AT OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, IT WILL BE IN THIS FIGHT WITH US. WHAT WILL THEY THE INCREASED POLICE VISIBILITY LOOK LIKE? ARE WE TALKING JUST EXTRA PATROLS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET OR ANYTHING BEYOND THAT. YES. SO WE WILL BE CONVENING AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM OF THE CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DISCUSSING RESOURCES NEEDED TO AGAIN, CREATE A SENSE OF SAFETY IN THE WEST END FOR THE COMMUNITIES. AND THAT WILL INCLUDE UNIFORM PRESENCE AS WELL AS NON UNIFORM PRESENCE. WE HAVE CAMERAS. WE WATCH THE CAMERAS. WE HAVE OTHER TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY. IT WILL BE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. ANY FINAL QUESTIONS? CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE LEVEL OF GUN VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE WEST END? AND NOW THE CITY MANAGER SAID THEY’RE FACING A DISPROPORTIONATE LEVEL. SO WHEN WE ARE DATA DRIVEN ORGANIZATION, WE ARE DATA DRIVEN POLICE FORCE AND THE THE DATA YEAR TO DATE FROM A SHOOTING PERSPECTIVE IS OPTIMISTIC. HOWEVER, HOWEVER, IMPORTANTLY, PARTICULARLY IN THE WAKE OF THIS TRAGEDY, THE WEST END SPECIFICALLY HAS SEEN VERY RECENTLY TRAGEDY AFTER TRAGEDY AFTER TRAGEDY. AND SO THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT CITY COUNCIL, THE ADMINISTRATION, CPD, THE MAYOR’S OFFICE, WE ARE ALL FOCUSED ON THE WEST END AND MAKING SURE THAT THE VIOLENCE THAT THE RESIDENTS THERE HAVE EXPERIENCED VERY RECENTLY, NOT JUST THIS SHOOTING, BUT PREVIOUS INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE THAT WE PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE, USING ALL THE RESOURCES TO BRING TO BEAR TO SUPPORT THE WEST END FOR CRIME PREVENTION, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE REAL TRAUMA THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING IS ALSO PRIORITIZED AND DEALT WITH THE STRATEGY IS THAT WE EMPLOY TO INTERRUPT THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS WORKED AND CONTINUES TO WORK IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IN ARE THE RIGHT STRATEGIES. OBVIOUSLY THE WEST END IS OUR PRIORITY AND OBVIOUSLY IT IS OUR PRIORITY TO STOP THE VIOLENCE. AS WE’VE SEEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HURT OR KILLED IN DRIVE BY SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR. HOW DO YOU CRACK DOWN ON SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVE BYS? YEAH, THE DRIVE BY SHOOTINGS ARE A CONFLUENCE OF TWO NATIONAL TRENDS THAT ARE AFFECTING CINCINNATI, BUT ALSO AFFECTING OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. KIA AND HYUNDAI WERE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAK INS AND CAR THEFTS THAT FACT COINCIDING WITH AS I’VE MENTIONED, THE UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY OF GUNS HAS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CPD, HAS DEPLOYED STRATEGIES IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT. BUT YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THESE KINDS OF INCIDENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY HAPPENING IN OUR CITY, AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. I’LL I’LL LET THE CHIEF TALK ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC STRATEGIES. YEAH. SO TO THE MAYOR’S POINT, WE HAVE SEEN LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY, A REAL PROBLEM WITH THEFTS OF KIA AND HYUNDAIS. AND WE HAVE ALSO SEEN THOSE ASSOCIATED AND THOSE THEFTS OF THOSE CARS ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENT CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IS THAT BEING SAID, I THINK AN IMPORTANT FACT TO UNDERSTAND IS THE VEHICLE IS JUST THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR SOMEBODY TO SHOOT SOMEBODY. WE’VE SEEN THEM BE ON FOOT AND FIRE A FIREARM AND SHOOT SOMEBODY. WE’VE SEEN THEM ON BICYCLES. SO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE IN A VEHICLE DOES NOT CHANGE THE WAY WE APPROACH THE INVESTIGATION TO EACH AND EVERY SHOOTING. IT’S SIMPLY A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT THEY FIND CONVENIENT. RIGHT. AND SO WE ALSO TRY TO INTERRUPT, INTERRUPT THAT. ONE MORE QUESTION. SO THIS WAS RANDOM OR TARGETED AT ALL. ARE YOU ABLE TO AGAIN, TOO SOON TO TELL ANY INVESTIGATION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,

Police: 5 children shot, 11-year-old dead in shooting in Cincinnati’s West End

An 11-year-old boy has died, and five more people have been injured after a shooting in the West End on Friday night, according to Cincinnati police.

Updated: 3:37 PM EST Nov 5, 2023

An 11-year-old boy has died and five others were wounded after a drive-by shooting in the West End on Friday night, according to Cincinnati police.In an update Sunday, Cincinnati police said five of the six victims in the shooting, including the 11-year-old boy killed, were children. According to Cincinnati police chief Terri Theetge, the shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. near Jones Street and Wade Street. Theetge said the children were near the intersection at Jones and Wade streets when someone in a dark Sedan fired 22 rounds “in quick succession” into the group of children. Arriving officers located 6 shooting victims. Three were transported to Cincinnati Children’s, two were taken to UC Medical Center and one was pronounced dead at the sceneTheetge provided the ages of the victims: a 12-year-old, 13-year-old, two 15-year-olds and 53-year-old woman. The victim that died at the scene was identified as an 11-year-old boy. City officials have not provided the names the victims, but members of their family were present at the press conference on Sunday. Isaac Davis, the father of the 11-year-old child killed, spoke during the press conference, asking those responsible to come forward.Two of the victims attended Cincinnati College Prep Academy, including 11-year-old who died. Three attended Cincinnati Public Schools. In an update Sunday morning, Theetge said one shooting victim remains hospitalized, and they are in stable condition. “To the person or persons responsible for this, turn yourself in, because we will find you and bring you to justice,” Theetge said.”They were a group of kids playing outside their house when a madman came and fired rounds into the group of kids,” Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. Theetge said, however, that there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community.

An 11-year-old boy has died and five others were wounded after a drive-by shooting in the West End on Friday night, according to Cincinnati police.

In an update Sunday, Cincinnati police said five of the six victims in the shooting, including the 11-year-old boy killed, were children.

According to Cincinnati police chief Terri Theetge, the shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. near Jones Street and Wade Street.

Theetge said the children were near the intersection at Jones and Wade streets when someone in a dark Sedan fired 22 rounds “in quick succession” into the group of children.

Arriving officers located 6 shooting victims. Three were transported to Cincinnati Children’s, two were taken to UC Medical Center and one was pronounced dead at the scene

Theetge provided the ages of the victims: a 12-year-old, 13-year-old, two 15-year-olds and 53-year-old woman. The victim that died at the scene was identified as an 11-year-old boy.

City officials have not provided the names the victims, but members of their family were present at the press conference on Sunday.

Isaac Davis, the father of the 11-year-old child killed, spoke during the press conference, asking those responsible to come forward.

Two of the victims attended Cincinnati College Prep Academy, including 11-year-old who died. Three attended Cincinnati Public Schools.

In an update Sunday morning, Theetge said one shooting victim remains hospitalized, and they are in stable condition.

“To the person or persons responsible for this, turn yourself in, because we will find you and bring you to justice,” Theetge said.

“They were a group of kids playing outside their house when a madman came and fired rounds into the group of kids,” Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval.

Theetge said, however, that there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community.