In a tragic eruption of violence, Cincinnati's Oakley neighborhood became the backdrop for a fatal shooting at an area fast food establishment. The incident, which occurred last night, resulted in the death of a 31-year-old man identified by police as Merris Kelley. Gunshots punctuated the night at approximately 6:25 p.m. in the parking lot of the Steak 'n Shake on Ridge Avenue, near Calvert Street, according to a report from Local12.
Authorities were alerted to multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds sustained by the victim upon their arrival at the scene, he was pronounced deceased. The Steak 'n Shake restaurant, was closed during the incident, police clarified, distancing the business from the event. They have detained an individual for questioning however, details about their involvement or identity remain undisclosed. This was echoed in a report by FOX19 NOW, quoting Lt. Jerome Herring, "As of right now, we don’t have a confirmed suspect, but we do have one person detained, and we’re learning more as time goes on."
The Cincinnati Police Department’s Homicide Unit took over the investigation, indicating the grave nature of the case. While the proximity of the shooting to the restaurant is apparent, the events leading up to the violent outburst are still hazy. However, the Steak 'n Shake's non-involvement in the shooting is a repeated assertion by the police, as noted in reports from both WLWT and Local12 publications.
