Early Sunday morning, a quiet stretch near Xavier University turned into a homicide scene after gunfire in North Avondale left a man dead and sent Cincinnati police scrambling to lock down the area. Officers rushed in after reports of shots and found a shooting victim, then began working through the night to gather evidence and talk with rattled neighbors. Detectives have not yet released any suspect information as they work to piece together what happened.
Police Respond to Late-Night Apartment Calls Near Campus
According to WLWT, officers were first called just after midnight Sunday to an apartment building on Glenwood Avenue after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. WLWT reported that police confirmed at least one person had been hit and said the investigation was very much active as detectives combed the scene. The station also noted that no suspect details had been shared at the time of its report.
Victim Identified, Investigators Ask Public for Leads
WCPO reported that officers ultimately found a man shot inside a vehicle in the 600 block of Gholson Avenue at about 1 a.m. The outlet identified the victim as 27-year-old Jalen Watson and said Cincinnati police are treating his death as a homicide. WCPO added that anyone with information is urged to call the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit at (513) 352-3542.
Overnight Gunfire Has Become a Troubling Pattern
The killing lands on top of a series of recent overnight shootings and gun-related calls in Avondale that have already brought street closures and a heavy police presence. Coverage of pre-dawn gunfire shutting down an Avondale corner on Reading Road and other late-night alerts has highlighted how frequently officers are being sent to the corridor. City neighborhood crime reports list Avondale as an area with recurring violent-crime calls, which is a big part of why detectives are canvassing for witnesses and checking for security cameras in the blocks around the scene; see the city's neighborhood report for North Avondale for more context in the City data.
How Residents Can Help the Investigation
Investigators are asking anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious overnight to contact the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit at (513) 352-3542 or to share information through the department's tip line. Xavier University's police department, which has mutual-aid and concurrent jurisdiction agreements with Cincinnati officers for off-campus incidents near the campus, has asked students and nearby residents to keep an eye on official campus alerts, according to Xavier University Police. Authorities say the case remains active and that more details will be released as the investigation moves forward.
