An innocent bystander killed with an AK-type assault rifle, the community outraged

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

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

That’s one of many questions swirling around Mitch Morris’ mind after a brutal end to the week in Cincinnati.

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

“Do you know that if they catch you with the AK, what will happen to you when you get to the courthouse? You have to understand the territory you’re walking in,” Morris said.

It 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 keep fighting,” Morris said. “Nobody said the war was easy.”

On Friday in the West End, leaflets with a simple message appeared in mailboxes in the district where the incident occurred. Morris and a group of four others took to the streets, focusing on high-crime areas.

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

“I think about my children,” said volunteer Ariel Bolden.

Volunteers with Morris at Winton Terrace think about the dozens of children they work with every day. For many, mission is a very personal matter.

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

Then 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” – Heidelburg.

He says Mitch was always there and that consistency was the most important thing.

“There are people here who are fighting this phenomenon and trying to stop it. You’re not alone in this,” Morris said.

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