CINCINNATI — Cincinnati officials express outrage and horror at a drive-by shooting that took the life of an 11-year-old boy and injured four other children and an adult. The incident occurred when an occupant of a dark sedan fired 22 rounds into a crowd of children near an intersection in Cincinnati’s West End.
The victims include boys aged 11, 12, 13, and 15; a 15-year-old girl; and a 53-year-old woman. One victim remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Two of the children attended Cincinnati Preparatory Academy, including the boy who was killed. The other three attended Cincinnati public schools. One of the injured victims remains in stable condition, while the others have been discharged.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval describes the shooting as “sickening and unimaginable.” The children were playing outside when the shots were fired. The incident took place near a daycare, a girls’ dance studio, and a playground.
“Twenty-two rounds were fired,” Mayor Pureval said. “Twenty-two rounds in a moment — into a crowd of kids. No time to respond. No time to react.”
Authorities have not released any information about a suspect or whether the shooting was targeted.
This shooting adds to the wave of gun violence occurring across the country. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 596 mass shootings in the U.S. this year. In 2023 alone, more than 1,200 teenagers (ages 12-17) have been killed and 3,400 injured, while over 250 children (ages 11 and younger) have been killed and nearly 570 injured.
‘Violence like this cannot be our status quo’
“This is not an act of God; this is not a natural disaster. The devastation, the harm, and the loss of life are shocking, but they stem from actions of real people and are enabled by access to guns,” City Manager Sheryl Long states during a press conference, visibly emotional.
“Violence like this cannot become our norm,” Long adds, noting that she has personally lost family members to gun violence.
In response to the shooting, Cincinnati police plan to increase the presence of officers in the West End, both in uniform and undercover. They will also utilize surveillance cameras. Social workers will offer support to residents, and personnel will be sent to local schools.
Prior to this incident, two teenagers aged 16 and 14 were shot in the West End neighborhood. Additionally, 30 adults have been shot there this year, according to Cincinnati police data. The neighborhood has already seen three homicides in 2023.
City officials acknowledge that the West End has experienced disproportionately high levels of gun violence. However, their efforts to combat violence in the area have yielded some results, such as the closure of a liquor store following a months-long investigation into a concentrated area of crime.
A father’s plea for information
Due to the increase in shootings involving teenagers, Cincinnati police have begun tracking child homicide statistics. Mayor Pureval attributes these acts of violence to easy access to guns and a lack of proper conflict resolution skills.
He reveals that 40% of illegal weapons on the city streets are stolen from cars. Officials urge gun owners to secure their firearms to prevent them from being used in crimes.
“The inclination to resort to deadly force, no matter how small the incident, is overwhelming,” the mayor states. “Gun violence is no longer confined to one neighborhood or limited to the drug trade. It is pervasive, especially among our youth.”
The identity of the boy who was killed has not been disclosed, but his father, Issac Davis, pleads for anyone with information about his son’s death to come forward. He questions when the violence will stop and how many more people have to bury their loved ones.
The investigation by the Cincinnati Police Department’s homicide unit is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call investigators at 513-352-3542.
Contributing: Charles Ventura, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
