The heartbroken father of an 11-year-old boy shot dead over the weekend in Cincinnati questioned, “How many people have to bury their kids” — as the city’s mayor recognized that unrelenting gun violence “is the reality that these kids have to live through.”
Isaac Davis, the grieving father of the slain boy, became emotional as he spoke out about how his son was killed and four other children were injured when a gunman opened fire from a car into a crowd in the suburb of West End Friday.
“How many people have to bury their kids, their babies, their loved ones?” Davis asked during a Sunday news conference.
He said he and his family were “begging” anyone with information related to the incident to come forward.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge echoed Davis’ sentiment, telling the shooter: “Turn yourself in, call a loved one, have them turn you in because if you don’t, we will find you and we will bring you to justice.”
Officials have not shared any possible motive behind the shooting or a description of the suspect or suspects involved.
When police arrived at the scene of the shooting on Friday they located six injured victims. Three were transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital while two were taken to UC Medical Center.
Davis’ son, who has not been publicly named, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Theetge said the other victims were a 12-year-old, 13-year-old, two 15-year-olds and a 53-year-old woman.
The identities of the victims have not been released by city officials, though members of their families were present during Sunday’s press briefing.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval also addressed the tragic shooting during the news conference.
“Twenty-two rounds were fired. Twenty-two rounds in a moment, into a crowd of kids. No time to respond, no time to react,” the mayor said,
“That is the reality that these kids had to live through, and the reality and the trauma that they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives.”