CINCINNATI — One man was killed in a shooting at a Target store parking lot in the Oakley neighborhood and the shooter is not in custody, according to police.
What You Need To Know
- A man was shot in a reported targeted shooting outside a Target store in the Oakley neighborhood
- The shooting happened Thursday, March 17 at approximately 1 p.m.
- Initial calls from witnesses reported a possible active shooter
- The suspect immediately fled the scene
Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Teresa Theetge said the victim was the intended target of the shooter, who fled the scene immediately after the shooting occurred.
Earlier Thursday, there was speculation on whether there was an active shooter at the store.
Theetge said the target was shot outside the front doors of the Target.
Shoppers and store employees sheltered in place while the incident occurred. No bystanders were physically harmed as a result of the shooting, officials said.
According to Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, witnesses to the shooting called police and led them to initially believe it was an active shooter situation.
Pureval said CPD was on scene within minutes.
Mayor @AftabPureval said the incident outside the Target in Oakley was a targeted shooting. One man is dead and the suspect (a male) fled the scene, per CPD interim Chief Theetge.
— Casey Weldon (@TheWallyWeldon) March 17, 2022
This was not an active shooting. No one else was injured. @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/LOYHwv3KN5
“Because of those calls, law enforcement, our incredible CPD, was here within minutes,” he said. “I also want to say how proud I am of CPD’s response, how quickly they got here, how immediate the investigation started.”
Theetge said the calls under the belief of an active shooter situation, which officers were dispatched under, led to large amounts of resources being utilized to the incident.
Interim Police Chief Teresa Theetge said the fatal shooting outside the Oakley Target was isolated. It happened at about 1 p.m. @CincyPD received multiple call which made them believe the incident may have been more serious.
— Casey Weldon (@TheWallyWeldon) March 17, 2022
No one else was harmed. @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/AJTsZbgv3D
However, once officers arrived on scene, it was deemed to be the targeted shooting, and the instigation continued under those pretenses.
The event remains under investigation, and police interviewed witnesses on a Metro bus and people in ESporta Fitness.
Police said they would not release any other information as the investigation continued.
Pureval said in a statement after the incident gun violence needs addressed.
“We are praying for everyone whose life has been upended by this afternoon’s tragic shooting,” Pureval said. “I am extremely thankful to our Cincinnati Police for their swift response, their immediate attention to ensuring the safety of all others at the scene and their dedication to searching for the person responsible.”
The mayor said while it wasn’t an active shooter situation, it “does not diminish the unacceptable fact that there is far too much gun violence in our city and across the country.”
“We cannot become numb to this senseless loss of life,” he said. “We must, and we will, continue to work hard to ensure our neighborhoods are safe for everyone to live a full, happy and meaningful life.”