A 14-year-old boy is currently facing charges of murder, reckless homicide, and two counts of felonious assault following the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Rasheed Mills in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, as reported by local law enforcement. Mills, who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest in the apartment where he lived, was later pronounced dead at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Last week, the incident took place near Vine and 13th streets, launching a citywide conversation about youth violence and the presence of firearms in the hands of children. According to LOCAL12, the victim's grandmother, Robin Ross, expressed a tortured thankfulness upon the arrest of the suspect, albeit tempered by the sorrow of knowing the shooter is but a child.
Additional reports surfaced that Mills was a sophomore at Taft High School and was involved in community work, including acting as a camp counselor at a camp for kids with diabetes. Pastor Tonya Sanderson of the Shekinah Glory Community Ministry has called on the neighborhood to support youth violence prevention in light of these tragic events, urging the community to see the suspect's age as a wake-up call to the need for proactive measures.
Mills’ involvement with his community was highlighted by Joe Esten, camp director of the American Diabetes Association, who told WLWT about the late teen's contributions and his role as a would-be counselor-in-training for Camp Korelitz. A vigil to remember Mills and a Stop the Violence march led by Pastor Sanderson are scheduled for July, as neighbors and community leaders grapple with the consequences of such a young life taken too soon and another young life embroiled in grave legal trouble.
The motives behind the shooting are still under investigation, and authorities have not disclosed whether Mills and the accused knew each other prior to the incident. Police urge anyone who may have relevant information to come forward as they continue to piece together the circumstances of the shooting. Concerned members of the public can provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers by calling (513)-352-3040, as reiterated by both FOX19 and Local 12 in their coverage of the case.
