Early Monday morning, six people were injured in at least three separate shootings in East Cleveland, Ohio, near a high school reunion event, according to police reports.
The violence began shortly after 1 a.m. in the vicinity where Shaw High School alumni were gathered for their annual reunion, as confirmed by city officials and eyewitnesses.
East Cleveland Acting Police Chief Kenneth D. Lundy stated that officers responding to the scene discovered a man who had been shot. While investigating, they found a woman nearby with multiple gunshot wounds. Both victims received immediate medical attention from paramedics before being transported to a hospital.
Approximately an hour later, while officers were still on the scene, they heard a series of gunshots coming from a Mobil gas station close to Shaw High School. Upon arrival, they located three more individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. These victims were also taken to the hospital, some by police and others in private vehicles.
Around 2:30 a.m., officers were called to another location a few blocks away from the gas station, where they discovered a sixth victim who had been shot. This individual was also transported to the hospital.
As of Monday afternoon, the motive behind the shootings remains unclear. Chief Lundy did not confirm whether the incidents were connected or if any of the victims had attended the reunion. The condition of the victims is currently unknown, and no arrests have been made.
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Police are urging anyone with information about the shootings to contact the East Cleveland Detective Bureau.
The shootings drew responses from law enforcement agencies in neighboring areas.
East Cleveland City Council President Twon Billings expressed his sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the impact of local police shortages on the situation.
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“When you have thousands of people coming into the city, there needs to be a strong law enforcement presence,” Billings said. “We only have a few officers, so we had to rely on mutual aid from surrounding communities like Cleveland Heights and University Heights. It’s a tragic shame that so many people were shot.”
