Innocent bystander killed with AK-style assault rifle, community outraged

A shooting in the West End sent a man to the hospital. Police say he was not the intended target and that one of the weapons used was an assault rifle.

“Do you understand what that bullet does to you when it hits flesh?” asked anti-violence advocate Mitch Morris.

That’s one of the many questions running through Mitch Morris’ mind after a violent end to the week in Cincinnati.

Police responded to Derrick Turnbow Avenue late Thursday night where a 24-year-old man was shot. They said he was an innocent bystander who was caught between two shooters who were shooting at each other, one of them armed with an AK-style assault rifle.

“Do you know what will happen to you if they catch you with this AK when you get to court? You need to understand the territory you are walking through,” Morris said.

This comes after a 5-year-old boy was injured in a drive-by shooting in Winton Hills.

“It’s been tough, but we have to stay in the fight,” Morris said. “No one said war was easy.”

In the West End on Friday, flyers lined mailboxes in the neighborhood where what happened with a simple message took place. Morris and a group of 4 others took to the streets, concentrating on high crime areas.

“They like to be in the community before the crisis happens and build relationships, they can interfere between shootings,” Morris said. “So when a crisis happens, they can go out into the community and talk to people because they know them. “It can’t be a pop-up, so they’re very involved.”

“I’m thinking about my kids,” said volunteer Ariel Bolden.

The volunteers alongside Morris at Winton Terrace are thinking about the dozens of children they work with each day. The mission is very personal for many.

“My son was murdered 3 years ago in 2021, so that was one of the reasons I’m here now,” said volunteer Sherri Heidelburg.

That’s when she met Mitch.

“I met Mr. Mitch because he came to my house the day after I lost my son to give me information to contact him,” Heidelburg.

She says Mitch was always there and consistency is key.

“There are people out here fighting this, trying to stop it, you’re not alone in this,” Morris said.

If you have information about any of the shootings, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040.