Police Say No Indications Ohio Nightclub Shooting is Terrorism Related

One person was killed and 15 other people were wounded in a shooting at a crowded nightclub early Sunday in Cincinnati, in the U.S. Midwestern state of Ohio, officials say.

Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac said as the night unfolded several local men got into a dispute inside the bar and it escalated to shots being fired.

He said the bar was very crowded with hundreds of people.

“As a result there were 16 people that sustained gunshot injuries, one of which is deceased.  A total of 15 others that were injured, one is in extremely critical condition … several others [with] more serious injuries and some very minor,” the chief said.

Isaac did not say if the shooters were among those wounded adding there are “a lot of interviews still to be done, a lot of evidence to process, and we certainly make that information available as it develops.”

Police said the family of 27-year-old Obryan Spikes, dead at the scene, has been notified.

Assistant Police Chief Paul Neudigate said the scene at the Cameo Night Club was “a very horrific situation” and added on Twitter “there are no indications this incident is terrorism related.”

Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said to the victims it does not matter if the act was terrorism related as they have been terrorized by gun violence.

“It’s important for everyone to understand that people were just going to have a good time and ended up getting shot.  That’s totally unacceptable, this is a country where you should be able to go out and have a good time and not be in fear of getting shot,” Cranley said. 

WATCH: Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley

Local television station WLWT reported several of the victims had life-threatening injuries, and officials have not said whether anyone is in custody.

While some victims were taken to hospitals by ambulance, others drove themselves, according to local reports.

“[There was] just a lot of chaos, obviously, when shots were fired,” Capt. Kim Williams said.  “Saturday night, it is a very young crowd.  We have had incidents here in the past, but this is by far the worst.”

A local TV station, WLWT, reported that at least one person was in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Authorities are interviewing several witnesses, but Capt. Williams said since a lot of the club goers left, the ongoing investigation becomes challenging.

 

“The biggest problem when you have a large crowd like this and the shots ring out, a lot of the witnesses disappear,” she said.

It is not immediately clear what caused the deadly incident as officials said the motive is still unclear.

“At this point we’ve not made any arrests, again as I’ve mentioned the investigation is in very early stages.  We are getting some information but at this point we’ve not made an arrest,” Chief Isaac said.

 

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