On Tuesday evening in Cincinnati's Avondale neighborhood, family and friends gathered on a familiar corner, clutching balloons and memories. One year earlier, 14-year-old Tyquan Jones-Alexander was fatally shot on that same block. The vigil marked the anniversary of his death and doubled as a public plea for anyone who knows what happened to finally come forward.
How the shooting unfolded
According to WCPO, Cincinnati police responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 800 block of Hutchins Avenue around 1 a.m. on July 7, 2025. Officers found a boy who had been shot and rushed him to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Hamilton County coroner identified him as 14-year-old Tyquan Jones-Alexander.
Family remembers Tyquan
Tyquan's sister, Delmika Hill-Alexander, described him as generous and community-minded, a kid who looked out for others. "He was just like a bright soul," she said, adding that the family believes he was not the intended target, in an interview with WKRC. On the anniversary, relatives and neighbors returned to the same intersection, releasing balloons into the sky as they called his name and shared stories about his short life.
Police response and how to tip
The homicide investigation remains open, and detectives are still asking for tips from anyone who saw or heard anything that night, as reported by WCPO. The Cincinnati Police Department lists Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040 for anonymous information.
Community context
Relatives and neighbors say Tyquan's killing is part of a broader surge in violence that city and federal officials have been trying to confront. In response to an uptick in gun crime last year, the ATF announced cash rewards intended to help combat violent crime, highlighting how hard it is to prevent shootings even when arrests are made, according to FOX19. For the Jones-Alexander family, the latest vigil was a harsh reminder that with no answers and no arrest, the grief of losing Tyquan has never really had a chance to settle.
