Prosecutors: Man charged in Over-the-Rhine fatal gunfight pushed niece into line of fire

Prosecutors said the 21-year-old shot and killed in Over-the-Rhine on Monday was pushed into a gunfight between her uncle and another man.

Two men were arrested and charged in connection with the death of Diamond Green, who was found dead on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Walnut Street around 6:30 a.m. Monday.

Taureen Rice, 36, and Johnathan Green, 34, have both been charged with murder and felonious assault. Each man was given a $1 million bond.

Taureen Rice and Johnathan Green were arraigned this morning on murder charges. Prosecutors say the two were involved in a gunfight when Green pushed his niece Diamond Green, 21, into the line of fire. She was found dead by police on Monday in OTR. @Enquirer pic.twitter.com/swPQjWcWAJ — Sarah Brookbank (@SarahBrookbank) June 5, 2018

On Monday, Lt. Col. Paul Neudigate said surveillance footage played a role in at least one of the arrests.

“The difference maker today was video,” Neudigate told reporters Monday. “It definitely paid dividends.”

More: 6 killings in 7 days: Cincinnati's deadliest week in three years

On Tuesday at the Hamilton County Justice Center, prosecutors said that Jonathan Green and Rice were engaged in a gunfight.

"(Green) pushed his own niece, a 21-year-old, into the line of fire to save himself," prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said he was still firing his weapon when he pushed Diamond Green into the line of fire. Both men suffered gunshot wounds.

Diamond Green's death topped off the deadliest seven days in Cincinnati since 2015.

It was the fifth fatal shooting in Over-the-Rhine in eight days. The neighborhood saw seven fatal shootings during all of 2017 and only three in 2016.

In 2005, Rice was convicted of armed robbery, according to court records. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

In 2011, he was sentenced to two years in prison for tampering with evidence and failing to obey an officer's orders.

Prosecutors said Johnathan Green has been convicted on 20 prior felony charges.

According to court documents, Green was charged with aggravated drug trafficking and other felony drug charges in May 2018.

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