Shaquille Ferguson, the man accused of opening fire outside CityBird on Fountain Square last October and wounding two people, is back in Hamilton County Municipal Court on Friday after his attorneys requested a bench trial. The hearing will be judge‑only, and Ferguson remains jailed without bond while prosecutors and defense lawyers sharpen competing accounts of what happened that night. The case, which investigators contend is linked to a separate shooting days earlier, has kept downtown safety in the spotlight.
Bench trial set for Friday morning
Ferguson and his lawyer have asked for a bench trial that is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., meaning Judge Christopher McDowell, not a jury, will decide the outcome, according to FOX19. The outlet reports Ferguson is being held without bond at the county jail as the court process continues.
Ballistics link the incidents, investigators say
Prosecutors say shell casings recovered from an Oct. 11 shooting on Spring Grove Avenue matched casings from the Oct. 13 Fountain Square attack, tying the same 9mm handgun to both incidents through the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, as reported by WLWT. Surveillance video that appears to show shots fired near CityBird Tenders has also been used in the police investigation.
Defense says he acted in self‑defense
Ferguson's attorney, Clyde Bennett II, has told reporters and the court that his client fired to protect himself and that people inside CityBird were armed, according to WHIO. Prosecutors dispute that account and say they have video and ballistic evidence that undercuts the self‑defense claim.
Charges, probation and potential sentence
Prosecutors have charged Ferguson in connection with the Fountain Square shooting and an earlier Northside shooting, and court filings say he violated probation by possessing the firearm. The Hamilton County Probation Department has recommended revoking his supervision, and prosecutors say the matching ballistics evidence ties the same 9mm to both scenes, facts that, if convictions follow, could translate to decades behind bars, according to FOX19.
Downtown safety under renewed scrutiny
The October shooting prompted city officials to revisit downtown patrols and safety plans, with leaders saying the incident exposed vulnerabilities near one of Cincinnati's busiest gathering spots, according to WCPO. Local data cited by the station show fluctuations in shots‑fired calls downtown over recent years, and officials have signaled stepped‑up enforcement and outreach after the violence.
What to expect Friday
Friday's bench‑trial request will be heard in Hamilton County Municipal Court, with attorneys likely to argue over admissible evidence and procedural questions before the judge rules on whether the case will be decided by him or ultimately go to a jury. Local coverage notes a full trial has been scheduled for later in February, per WLWT. Both sides say they are preparing to press their versions of events as the case moves toward higher‑stakes hearings.
