Tragic Mass Shooting in Cincinnati Claims Life of 11-Year-Old and Injures 5, Described as Sickening and Unimaginable

Cincinnati officials are expressing deep outrage and horror following a tragic drive-by shooting that occurred on Friday night. The incident resulted in the death of an 11-year-old boy and left four other children and an adult injured. According to Police Chief Terri Theetge, the victims were gathered near an intersection when an occupant of a dark sedan fired 22 rounds in quick succession. The injured victims include boys aged 11, 12, 13, and 15, a 15-year-old girl, and a 53-year-old woman. One of the victims remains hospitalized in stable condition.

The children involved in the shooting were students at Cincinnati Preparatory Academy and Cincinnati public schools. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval described the shooting as “sickening and unimaginable,” emphasizing that the children were simply playing outside when the shots were fired. The incident occurred in close proximity to a daycare, a girls’ dance studio, and a playground.

Pureval expressed his shock at the situation, stating, “Twenty-two rounds were fired into a crowd of kids. No time to respond. No time to react.” The authorities have not released any information about the suspect or confirmed whether the shooting was targeted.

This tragic incident is part of a concerning trend of gun violence across the country. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 596 mass shootings in the US this year alone. The archive also reports that over 1,200 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 have been killed, with 3,400 injured in 2023. Additionally, more than 250 children aged 11 and younger have been killed, and nearly 570 injured.

City Manager Sheryl Long addressed the press, visibly emotional, and conveyed her frustration at the situation. “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 are enabled by access to guns,” she said. Long, who has also personally experienced the loss of family members due to gun violence, emphasized that violence like this cannot become the norm.

In response to the shooting, Cincinnati police plan to increase the presence of uniformed and non-uniformed officers in the West End area and utilize surveillance cameras. Social workers are also mobilizing to provide support to residents. The city will send personnel to local schools on Monday.

Before this incident, the West End neighborhood had already witnessed two shootings involving teenagers and 30 shootings involving adults this year. Three homicides had also occurred in the neighborhood. Despite these challenges, Long highlighted that the city’s efforts to combat violence in the area have yielded some results, including the closure of a liquor store following a concentrated investigation into crime in the Livingston and John streets area.

Mayor Pureval mentioned that due to the rise in shootings involving teens, the police have started specifically tracking child homicide statistics. He attributed the causes of such violence to easy access to guns and inadequate conflict resolution skills. The mayor urged gun owners to secure their firearms to prevent them from being stolen and used in crimes.

The father of the 11-year-old boy killed in the shooting, Issac Davis, made a heartfelt plea for anyone with information to come forward. He questioned when the violence would stop and how many more families would have to endure the pain of losing a loved one.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and the Cincinnati Police Department’s homicide unit is urging anyone with information to contact them at 513-352-3542.