The Cincinnati community of Winton Hills is shrouded in mourning following the tragic death of five-year-old Artagist "Arty" Stanford III, who was killed in a drive-by shooting while sleeping in his home. According to FOX19 NOW, young Arty succumbed to his injuries at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital last Saturday after being shot two days earlier alongside his four-year-old brother.
Terri Fahey, Arty's mother, depicted the heart-wrenching ordeal, saying, "They took my baby. They took my heart and my life because my life is completely changed forever," in a statement obtained by FOX19 NOW. Fahey recounted the devastating aftermath of the violence, which left nearly a dozen bullet holes in the facade of their family's townhouse. The lethal bullet, as she described, pierced the drywall, the insulation, and two totes filled with clothes before it tragically struck her son's neck.
A vigil illuminated by candles and buoyed by the soaring of Spider-Man-themed balloons was held yesterday to honor the cherubic boy whose laughter once filled the streets of his neighborhood. "He was a funny, smart, intelligent child. He touched everybody," Fahey told WCPO. The community's effort to send these balloons to the heavens was a poignant gesture of hope that Arty could witness from above the outpouring of love and care he inspired.
The widespread effect of the tragedy extended to Arty's school, Winton Hills Academy, where his presence had already become an integral part of the fabric. His kindergarten teacher shared with WLWT News 5 that the spirited child exclaimed, "I got this," as he conquered his initial nervousness and embraced his education with zeal. The school community, including many of Arty's teachers and the principal, attended the vigil, a testament to this young life's indelible mark on them.
The Cincinnati Police Department urges anyone with information to come forward and contact their Homicide Unit at (513) 352-3542. Amid unending tears and a gaping void left behind, the community, alongside Arty's family, awaits justice, which, at this time, seems like a faint glimmer in a skyline marred by tragedy.
