CINCINNATI, Ohio — Homicides are dramatically rising in Cincinnati. Over the first four months of this year the city has seen 28 homicides — 25 of which were gun-related. And with this new data, many questions arise.
- There have been 28 homicides in Cincinnati in 2020, from Janurary 1 to April 28
- 26 of the victims have been African Americans
- Cincinnati Police say most of the the rise in crime this year has been in D3 on the West Side of the city
Primarily, how can this be possible with a pandemic ongoing — causing most people to stay at home?
Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac said that in itself could be the answer.
“There are a few individuals that have decided to capitalize on this opportunity and this is the way it’s manifesting itself,” Isaac said.
Violent crime overall in Cincinnati is up 18 percent compared to last year, and shootings have risen by 52 percent.
Isaac said police are doing their best to control the situation, as arrests have been made in nearly 70 percent of cases — but preventing violent outcomes has been a challenge.
“I think cities that typically struggle with violent crimes are struggling even greater during this pandemic,” said Isaac.
But data from police departments from around the state paints a different picture — one that shows Cincinnati stands alone.
In Dayton there have been nine homicides this year so far, up from eight over the same period in 2019.
And in Akron, it’s a similar story. There have been 10 homicides in 2020, up one from nine this point a year ago.
Neither show a statistical change.
Cleveland and Columbus are most similar to Cincinnati in size and population — and both have actually had more homicides than Cincinnati — but neither has seen an increase as dramatic as Cincinnati.
So far this year, Cleveland has 36 homicides, compared to 30 in 2019 — a 20 percent increase.
Columbus has seen 34 homicides so far this year — down from 36 in both 2018 and 2019.
Cincinnati Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman said the statistics in Cincinnati are more than troubling.
“These are not just statistics, these are real people, real families that have been disrupted,” Smitherman said. “They’re burying loved ones during COVID-19, which means many of them have not had a service.”
Cincinnati’s homicides are also disproportionately divided by race. Twenty-six of the 28 victims are African American. Cincinnati City Council Member Jeff Pastor is sick and tired of seeing black people being killed in Cincinnati.
“These are young African American people whose potential has been cut short by violence,” Pastor said. “We do not need people, specifically our young black brothers and sisters in predominantly African-American and working-class neighborhoods killing each other.”
Police said a significant amount of violent crime occurs in Cincinnati’s Westwood neighborhood. And while police are doing their part, Pastor said the solution to correct the issue lies within the communities themselves.
“When community leaders say we are tired of young black kids dying, that’s when this madness is going to stop,” Pastor said. "Until then, it’s going to be the same recycled solutions out there that’s only going to get us partially better.”
And while the city council cannot conclude the coronavirus pandemic is a direct explanation why shootings have increased, they are moving forward with plans for a task force or strike force to address the issue of gun violence and homicide in Cincinnati.