Cincinnati, Ohio — Tragedy unfolded near the University of Cincinnati early Monday morning when a shooting claimed the lives of three individuals in the Corryville neighborhood, located a short distance from the campus. Authorities confirmed that the incident also left another person injured.
The deceased have been identified by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office as Shawn McDaniel Sr., aged 44, his son Shawn McDaniel Jr., aged 22, and 21-year-old Laurenz Nixon. The Hamilton County officials noted that the McDaniels were father and son, painting a somber picture of the family tragedy.
At approximately 2:50 a.m. Monday, local law enforcement officers patrolling the vicinity of Highland and East University avenues reported hearing multiple gunshots. A quick response to the site led to the discovery of four male victims, one of whom was pronounced dead at the scene. The three additional victims were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital, where the elder McDaniel and Nixon succumbed to their injuries.
Adding to the chaos of the incident, another gunshot victim later appeared at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center by self-transport. Police later clarified this individual’s injuries were not connected to the Corryville incident, indicating a separate occurrence.
In the wake of the gunfire, police described a tense scene where an individual with a firearm was seen entering a residence. This person later exited the house voluntarily and was taken into custody by the officers. Investigators are still working to ascertain the individual’s connection to the shooting and the events leading up to it.
Amidst community unrest and concern, Ronald Caulton, a 75-year-old local resident, shared his account with police, stating he had heard “four strong blasts,” followed shortly by approximately ten additional shots.
Authorities continue their investigation and have urged anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward. Community members can confidentially contact Crime Stoppers with tips that might help elucidate the circumstances and motives behind this violent act.
This painful incident marks the second mass shooting in Cincinnati this year, following a pattern of increasing gun violence in Ohio. According to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks shootings nationwide, a mass shooting is defined by at least four people being shot in a single episode. Since the beginning of June, Ohio has witnessed a troubling spike in such events, including eight mass shootings across cities like Columbus, Dayton, Akron, and Euclid. This upward trend echoes a national crisis, spotlighting the urgent need for addressing gun violence and improving public safety protocols.
The city and the affected communities now mourn the loss and grapple with the impact of this violence as law enforcement officers and community leaders seek solutions and preventative measures to curb the prevalence of similar tragedies in the future.