2 indicted in OTR mass shooting
Two suspects have been charged in a shooting that left nine wounded in Over-the-Rhine early Sunday.
Diablo McCoats, 29, and Jarvis Barnes, 34, were both taken into custody this week in connection to the shooting, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters announced Thursday.
During a press conference, surveillance video of the shooting was shown. Investigators said McCoats, who had a tactical light on his handgun, appears to fire first in the video during a physical altercation on one side of the street.
Deters said McCoats was then shot by Cincinnati Police Officer Joe Shook and fled the scene. The prosecutor said Shook's actions were heroic.
McCoats was one of the nine wounded, officials said. The eight other victims were all successfully treated and released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center by Monday afternoon.
Barnes can then be seen firing his weapon in the direction of the gunfire from the opposite side of the street.
There are additional gunshots audible in the footage that cannot be attributed to McCoats, Barnes or Shook. Police said the investigation includes attempting to identify any other shooters.
McCoats faces 16 counts of felonious assault and one count of possessing a handgun as a convicted felon. Barnes faces on seven counts of felonious assault and the same weapons charge.
Deters said if convicted on all charges McCoats could be sentenced to up to 91 years in prison. Barnes faces a maximum of 80 years if convicted, he said.
"If you want to carry a gun in Cincinnati and commit crimes, you need to be prepared to go to jail for the rest of your life," Deters said. "If you think you can do this in Cincinnati and get away it, you have the wrong city."
Deters said both McCoats and Barnes have extensive criminal records but said he is confident that they will both spend the rest of their lives in prison.
"They aren't getting out," he said.
Cincinnati Police Chief Theresa Theetge said there will be an increased police presence in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine during busy weekend times. On-street parking is now prohibited during weekend nights on Main Street, she said.
Theetge said residents should feel confident they will be safe in the area, but people should also be aware of their surroundings.
Deters and investigators could not say if Barnes and McCoats knew each other. In the video, it does not appear that McCoats was targeting Barnes when he first fired.
Deters called the situation leading up to the shooting "some kind of petty turf thing." He said two groups were present there, one from Downtown and the other from the West Side.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Two indicted in Over-the-Rhine shooting
