A Cincinnati woman was left injured after a violent confrontation in which police say 35-year-old Demaris Walker strangled her, pressed a knife to her neck, and pointed a gun while threatening to kill her, telling her, "I'm gonna shoot you." Officers say they heard a gunshot just as they knocked on the door, and investigators allege Walker then tried to toss a firearm off a balcony.
According to court records cited by WKRC Local 12, Walker is accused of strangling the victim and threatening to shoot her while holding a knife to her throat. The outlet reports he now faces charges of felonious assault, strangulation, aggravated menacing, tampering with evidence, using weapons while intoxicated, and having weapons under disability.
Court records quoted in the coverage say Walker told the woman, "I'm gonna shoot you," and that officers heard a gunshot at the door as they responded, WKRC Local 12 notes. Police also told investigators that Walker tried to discard the firearm from a balcony when officers approached.
Charges and What They Carry
Ohio made strangulation a standalone felony in 2023, treating it as a serious offense in part because nonfatal strangulation is a strong predictor of later lethality in intimate-partner violence. The law defines strangulation as any act that impedes normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to the throat or by covering the nose and mouth. The full language of the statute, along with the different felony levels it can carry, is available in Ohio Revised Code 2903.18.
Local Context
The case lands at a time of heightened attention to strangulation and domestic violence in Cincinnati. Earlier this year, a high-profile off-duty incident that drew criminal scrutiny showed how such allegations can trigger both criminal and internal investigations within local law enforcement, as reported by WCPO.
Walker faces the listed felony counts in Hamilton County, with court records and existing reporting providing the details available as of publication. We will monitor court filings and any statements from prosecutors and update this story as more information comes out.
