Video shows suspect fire into restaurant, injuring 2
By Emily Sanderson
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CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Cincinnati police are sharing more information after two people were shot in the heart of downtown Monday night.
The shooting happened shortly before 8 p.m., at the CityBird Tenders restaurant on Fountain Square.
Cincinnati police said two people were shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. One of the victims is a 16-year-old boy and the other is a 19-year-old man.
One of the victims was taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the other was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Both have non-life-threatening injuries.
Police chief Terri Theetge said two people have been taken into custody in connection with the shooting. The shooting began as a verbal altercation near Clifton that continued into downtown and into the restaurant before shots were fired.
Police shared information on the 24-year-old suspect seen firing shots. They did not identify him by name, but said a warrant has been signed on charges of felonious assault and having weapons under disability. Theetge shared he’s currently under probation for prior assault earlier this year.
“No newcomer to crime,” Theetge said.
Theetge said other charges may be forthcoming.
A juvenile was also arrested after being seen discarding firearm into flowerbox outside the restaurant. Another person who had warrants on them that tried to elude police.
Investigators said no employees at any of the nearby businesses were injured, including CityBird.
“This is the center of our city, this is our Fountain Square, where people should be proud to come down and celebrate our city,” Theetge said. “This is unacceptable behavior by anybody in our city.”
The shooting is being investigated by the Cincinnati Police Department.
Monday night’s shooting marked the second shooting on Fountain Square this month. Two people were arrested for a shooting that injured one person near the intersection of East 6th and Walnut streets last Tuesday night.
Cincinnati mayor Aftab Pureval released a statement on the recent violence, calling it “beyond the pale and intolerable.”
“As Mayor of our city, my expectation is that every party is at the table, and every change is on the table. We must collectively consider significant change to the transit hub and how we police the area. That includes working with SORTA to push for changes to Government Square, and creating and enforcing an earlier curfew specific to the Fountain Square District,” Pureval said in part.
Businesses along Fountain Square are also reacting to the news of the shooting, sharing frustrations with the recent violence.
“Like so many community leaders and citizens, I am deeply frustrated not only by the violence that occurred on Fountain Square last night but also by the continued pattern of crime our city has experienced in recent months. Over the past three months, I have dedicated significant time meeting biweekly with the Mayor and staying in close communication with CPD, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Governor Mike DeWine’s team, and Senators Moreno and Husted, including conversations as recent as this morning,” Britney Miller, CEO of Jeff Ruby’s shared in a statement.
She said she’s hopeful that over the next day, there will be efforts made to address the ongoing issues.
“While we may not always see eye to eye, I am grateful that our city leadership listens and remains open to feedback,” the statement reads. “I also want to acknowledge that I am not the only business leader stepping up. This has been a heavy lift for all of us, and many key leaders across our city share this sentiment and are working tirelessly behind the scenes to drive meaningful change and restore safety and confidence downtown. I have made a personal commitment not to join the noise or the bandwagons but instead to channel my frustration into fuel to be part of the solution for the great city of Cincinnati. Now is the time. Change only happens when the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of change.”
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