Posted on 09/06/2018 2:30:58 PM PDT by SSS Two
Four people – including the gunman --are dead following what police called an active shooter situation in downtown Cincinnati.
It happened around 9 a.m. Thursday at Fifth Third Center on Walnut Street, a 30-story building that's home to regional banker Fifth Third Bancorp and other businesses.
Police said the gunman, identified by several law enforcement sources as Omar Enrique Perez, 29, entered the building through a loading dock and made his way to the lobby of the office building.
Perez shot five people. Three people were killed by the gunman, officials said, and two others were wounded.
Perez was confronted by four Cincinnati police officers inside the building, officials said, and a shootout commenced.
Perez was killed in the shootout, Cincinnati Police Chief Elliot Isaac said. Isaac also said the shooter acted alone, and there is no further threat to the public.
No officers were injured in the incident, and Perez's motive remains unclear.
Police confirm that Perez was not a current or former employee of the bank.
"This could have been a bloodbath beyond imagination," Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said.
Deters also said that Perez had several hundred rounds of ammunition on him, and praised Cincinnati police officers for their response.
"It could have been a lot worse. People in this town should just thank a cop when they see them, because what they did today was just unbelievable," Deters said.
Deters said that several officers fired through the glass of the building in an attempt to thwart an active shooter situation.
Officials with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office confirm they are searching the apartment of the now-dead gunman in North Bend, Ohio, a sleepy riverside community of Cincinnati's west side.
One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene, and two were pronounced dead at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Two others are being treated for their injuries, officials said, and are expected to survive.
One of the dead has been identified as Richard Newcomer, 64. Newcomer worked with Gilbane Building Co., according to company spokesperson Wes Cotter.
The two others killed have not been identified.
"Again, our physicians and staff are focused on caring for the patients and their families. We prepare for situations like these and hope they never happen. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and all involved," a medical official said.
The chaos unfolded alongside Fountain Square, the heavily trafficked park at the city's center.
Witnesses heard more than a dozen gunshots ring out as they walked to work during the morning rush.
Several nearby buildings were placed on lockdown as the situation unfolded. SWAT teams swept several of those buildings to ensure safety and to search for possible additional victims.
Sen. Rob Portman has released a brief statement as details develop, saying, in part, "My staff and I are following the situation in Cincinnati. If you're downtown, please follow first responder instructions for the safety of everyone involved. Jane and I hope for a peaceful resolution soon."
Officials with Fifth Third Bank released a statement in the wake of the shooting, saying, in part, "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone caught up in this terrible event. We continue to work with law enforcement as we ensure the safety of our employees and customers. We are grateful for the support and concerns from our neighbors throughout Cincinnati and the country."
WLWT has multiple crews at the scene and will update this story as details become available.
Hmmm A WHITE Hispanic?
Illegal alien? Committing another illegal act?
Muslim Mexican?
Omar? Sounds Swedish.
Toxic masculinity, no doubt
This happened under Gov. Kasick’s watch. What incompetence!
See, see! Them whyte nationalist peoples again!
If he had that much ammo it sounds like security did a great job taking him out quickly.
Speaking of Kasich, are the Pike County and Colerain Twnshp shooters still running around loose....
Participated in Tea Party rallies in Fountain Square back in the spring of 2009. Some of the first in the nation.
Omar Enrique sounds arab-hispanic to me.
They may need to bring in the Las Vegas police to get to the bottom of this case.
Omar is not unusual among non-Muslim Mexicans, for some reason. They may have been naming their children after Hollywood actors (in this case, possibly the handsome Omar Sharif) or some such thing, and then it just became a regular name as Mexico became less Catholic.
That said, I’d bet this was a workplace thing. He may not have worked for the bank itself, but he probably had some connection with somebody on the premises, perhaps in another business, and was trying to get back at that person.
I see you’ve been arguing with liberals too.
Nope. can’t say illegal alien...
Omar is not unusual among non-Muslim Mexicans, for some reason.
...
I think there’s a lot of Lebanese in Mexico.
An American friend of mine of Mexican ancestry used to joke that Jesus was Mexican. Who else would name their kids Jesus?
“Who else would name their kids Jesus?”
All you parents out there who named your kid Joshua (Yeshua).
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