Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell was close to danger but remained unharmed after shots were fired in the University Circle area last Friday morning. The incident occurred around 10:10 a.m. on Magnolia Drive, near the Louis Stokes Cleveland U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Despite the gunfire, there have been no injuries reported. Cleveland Police are still searching for suspects, and the case is under active investigation, with no current leads on any suspects or associated vehicles.
Reports from Cleveland19 indicated that Conwell was among a group of people walking in the area when an unknown individual fired shots. The councilman's presence at the scene was to later be confirmed by a spokesperson for the City Council, according to a statement obtained by Signal Cleveland. Conwell, holding his representation of Ward 9 since 2001, is reportedly doing fine and was advised to refrain from commentary due to the ongoing investigation.
Conwell's colleague, Councilmember Mike Polensek, reacted to the incident with concern and support for Conwell, describing him as "a good councilman and a great community leader." This sentiment was shared with WKYC during their coverage of the frightful event. As the investigation continues, local authorities have encouraged anyone with information to come forward to aid in the resolution of the case.
Former East Cleveland Mayor Sandra Morgan, now a current candidate for office and a frequent visitor to University Circle, shared with Cleveland19 her concerns about the shooting. "It makes same think I have to watch out for my safety and be more guarded, but you have to be out in public," Morgan said. "Not only did you endanger lives, but those bullets could have gone anywhere." The community echoed these concerns, with residents and workers in the area expressing they are now being more careful following the incident.
The Cleveland Division of Police is handling the investigation, emphasizing the community's safety as their top priority and requesting public assistance. As reported by Cleveland19, Councilman Conwell's daughter has confirmed her father is resting safely at home. Police efforts continue as the search for the shooter or shooters remains ongoing with the hope that public outreach will yield critical information leading to a resolution of the case.
