Cops: Woman shot at her gender-reveal party wasn’t pregnant
CINCINNATI (AP) — A woman who claimed to have lost her baby during a deadly shooting at her gender reveal party in suburban Cincinnati wasn’t even pregnant, police said Monday.
Colerain Township Police Chief Mark Denney said investigators only have speculation about why the woman claimed to be pregnant, but he did not disclose the speculation.
The woman had told local news organizations she lost her unborn child after she was wounded in the leg. She was treated at a hospital for the wound.
Police said their investigation is being impeded by “leads known to be lies” that are wasting time that could be spent following more productive leads.
“From the very beginning of this investigation, we have met significant resistance that is uncommon from victims of crime wanting a resolution,” police said.
One person was killed and eight people, including three children, were wounded in the shooting when two men opened fire July 8 inside a home to learn the gender of the supposedly expectant mother’s child.
A 22-year-old Indiana woman, Autum Garrett, was the only person killed.
Police haven’t identified the gunmen or their motive.
An anonymous donor is offering a $10,000 reward for information.
Investigators found an unloaded handgun in the front yard of the small, single-story home. It’s being examined at a crime lab, the police spokesman said.
Ohio city ignores panhandling law after ruling in sign case
COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s capital city has stopped enforcing its panhandling law after similar laws were challenged successfully using a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in an Arizona case about church signs.
Assistant city attorney Joshua Cox tells The Columbus Dispatch that First Amendment case had “an unintended consequence” on panhandling enforcement.
The court struck down a law that set tougher restrictions for signs directing people to church services than for signs for political candidates and real estate agents. Lawyers challenging panhandling laws then drew parallels to people being prohibited from asking for money in spaces where they’re free to talk about other things.
Joe Mead, a volunteer attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, says cases brought in Ohio have led to repeals of panhandling laws in Akron, Dayton and Toledo.
Researchers to study why Columbus area has so many evictions
COLUMBUS (AP) — A new research project is intended to help determine why the county that includes Columbus has Ohio’s busiest eviction court and such high numbers of people forced to leave their homes.
The Columbus Dispatch reports Franklin County has nearly 18,000 eviction cases filed annually. The newly announced research led by graduate students at Ohio State University will aim to find out why.
They’ll use data, field observation and interviews with tenants and landlords to study various factors, such as employment, housing quality, rent increases and changes in personal circumstances.
They anticipate providing city and county officials with policy recommendations that could be implemented to help address causes of the high eviction numbers.
2 Ohio teens killed in collision with firetruck identified
AKRON (AP) — Authorities have identified the two Ohio teens killed when the sport-utility vehicle they were riding in collided with a firetruck.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the teens as 15-year-old Briyana Hayes and 16-year-old Lashae Johnson. They were killed Friday afternoon near downtown Akron. Police say the SUV ran a red light and struck the firetruck at an intersection.
Three Akron firefighters received minor injuries. Three other teens in the SUV were taken to hospitals. Their names and conditions haven’t been released.
It’s unclear who was driving the SUV. The firetruck was headed to a training exercise and did not have its lights or siren on.
Akron police are reconstructing the accident.
