Riverfront Live — riverfront live shooting leaves 9 injured in Cincinnati

Nine people were injured in a mass shooting early Sunday at riverfront live in Cincinnati’s East End, police said. The shooting occurred around 1 a. m. at Riverfront Live, near the intersection of Kellogg Avenue and Wilmer Avenue.

Riverfront Live details

Interim Chief Adam Hennie said dispatch received a 911 call around 1 a. m. for reports of multiple shots fired inside Riverfront Live, a music venue located in the 4300 block of Kellogg Avenue along the Ohio River. At the time of the shooting, there were 500-600 individuals at the scene, Hennie said, and detail officers were also outside the venue when the shots rang out.

Timeline and crowd size

Social media indicated the venue was hosting a party with several DJs that began at 10 p. m. The event occurring at Riverside Live was the DJ Fresh Birthday Celebration, DJ Fresh's management said. In a later interview, venue owner Tim Jordan said the shooting occurred a few hours into the DJ Fresh Birthday Celebration.

Victims and hospitals

Nine people were shot and were transported to either UC Medical Center or Good Samaritan Hospital, Hennie said. The UC Medical Center confirmed they received eight patients in relation to the shooting — two were treated and released, five were stable, and one was in critical condition. Authorities later said that all nine victims were in stable condition.

Officials' statements and reactions

Hennie said police still have not identified any suspects in the shooting and that he did not give specifics regarding what led up to it, how many guns were fired or what types of guns were used. "I am so thankful that no one lost their lives during this horrific event early this morning, " Hennie said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.

Mayor Aftab Pureval, who was at the press conference alongside City Manager Sheryl Long and City Councilmembers Scotty Johnson and Meeka Owens, called the mass shooting "is not and cannot be acceptable" and said it was a result of "senseless gun violence. " Pureval added, "This is a dark moment for our community. It's horrific. It's unconsciousable. " He said the shooting occurred where a large crowd was "expected to enjoy their night peacefully. "

Long said she was "heartbroken to witness such a senseless act of violence, " while also saying she was not shocked: "So many of us in America are at a similar state of unease, not wondering if a shooting like this will occur but when. " Long connected the incident to responsible gun ownership: "A responsible gun owner understands that deadly weapons have no place in large crowds and at entertainment venues. A responsible gun owner looks at a situation like this and is as furious as we are... If you own a gun, we need this responsible gun owner to be you. If you cannot comply with these simple rules, you are complicit in the violence. Period. " She added, "There is no excuse. Guns are gasoline to the flames of violence. "

Witness accounts and venue response

A band, Solid Gold Dancer, was playing at Murray's Tavern on Kellogg Avenue nearby when they heard the commotion outside. Band member Sam Steinher said, "We saw a bunch of people running from this side of the building while we were out on a break in between sets. At first, we didn't realize the severity of the situation. But someone said that people had been firing shots off. " He added, "Depending on the genre of the show, that venue has attracted violence in the past. But we've never ever seen something like this happen before. There's been fights back there before or police presence, but I couldn't imagine something like this happening. " Cam Welling, another bandmate, said that people started filing into Murray's Tavern to take cover from the active situation after the shooting started. The band said they were just happy that so many people got out of the shooting safely, and wished the best for those who suffered injuries.

DJ Fresh, one of the DJs hosting the event, had a statement delivered through his management: "We are devastated by the horrific events that took place during the DJ Fresh Birthday Celebration. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this senseless act of violence. This event was intended to be an opportunity for us to come together and enjoy great music; and have fun celebrating life, it is deeply frustrating that the actions of one individual ruined the evening for so many. " The management team also noted that "security for Riverfront Live is the responsibility of the venue owners and management, (which we pay for when we rent out the building space) not DJ Fresh or the event hosts. "

Venue owner Tim Jordan issued a statement: "We are devastated by the violence of a few bad actors at [what] was otherwise a safe and fun night for our community. Safety has always and will always be our first priority. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. " Jordan went on to thank the staff, the first responders, the Cincinnati Police Department and the Cincinnati Fire Department. Riverfront Live's owners also issued their own statement on social media saying they are devastated by the shooting.

The Columbus branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced on X that it was "assisting the Cincinnati Police Department in investigating the mass shooting. "

All nine victims are in stable condition while investigations continue and authorities work to identify suspects and the sequence of events that led to the shooting.