Nearly a year after her 13-year-old son was gunned down in Winton Hills, a Cincinnati mother is still searching for answers and pushing the city to do better by its kids. Rachel Tobin says her son had plans, a bright future, and a spark that has never been replaced. Nothing, she says, has filled the void his death left behind. She is now calling for more programs that keep young people busy and safe, so other families do not face the same kind of senseless loss.
What happened
On the night of February 20, 2025, 13-year-old Izreal Bishop was found shot in the stomach and chest on a lawn on Dutch Colony Drive around 8:30 p.m. He was rushed to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to FOX19. Neighbors told reporters they heard multiple gunshots as first responders raced to the 700 block of Dutch Colony Drive.
Investigation and community reaction
The Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit is still investigating Izreal's killing and has not made any arrests, the department said. Cincinnati Public Schools identified him as a Hughes STEM High School student, and community mentors described him as a respectful, hardworking kid who liked boxing and pitching in on neighborhood projects, according to WCPO.
Mother's plea
Tobin told FOX19 she has had to "start living from emptiness" since her son's death and that, nearly a year later, she still does not know who pulled the trigger. She said she was advised not to return to her home for safety reasons and urged anyone with information to speak up so her family can finally have some peace.
Broader context and city response
Tobin's call for action comes on the heels of the New Year's Day killing of 11-year-old QueenEr'Re Reed at Laurel Playground. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has offered a $5,000 reward for information in that case and noted that recent child shootings have pushed Cincinnati leaders to move faster on a plan to install or repair roughly 90 surveillance cameras across the city, a step officials say could help criminal investigations, according to the ATF.
How to help
Anyone with information about Izreal Bishop's killing is asked to call the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit at 513-352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040, per the Cincinnati Police Department. Community leaders stress that even small, anonymous tips can give detectives the missing piece they need to move a case forward and bring grieving families some long-awaited answers.
