What we know: 4 dead, including gunman, in shooting at Fifth Third building ‘This could have been a bloodbath beyond imagination,’ prosecutor says Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT CHIEF ISAAC: LET ME BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON BY JUST REITERATING THAT THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS AND ALL WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT THIS MORNING ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. THIS IS A HORRIFIC INCIDENT AND WE REALLY ARE GRATEFUL TO THE QUICK AND DECISIVE ACTIONS OF THE OFFICERS AND FIRE PERSONNEL WHO RESPONDED THIS MORNING. WHAT WE KNOW AT THIS POINT THIS MORNING AT APPROXIMATELY 9:11 A.M., THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER RECEIVED NUMEROUS 911 CALLS REPORTING SHOTS FIRED INSIDE THE LOBBY OF THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER LOCATED AT NUMBER 38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE. MULTIPLE OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AS CONTINUING REPORTS OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER CONTINUED TO FLOW IN. AS THE OFFICERS APPROACHED THE LOBBY AREA OF THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER, THEY ENCOUNTERED A LONE GUNMAN ACTIVELY FIRING SHOTS IN THE FIRST FLOOR LOBBY OF THE FIFTH THIRD BUILDING. FOUR OF THE RESPONDING OFFICERS ENGAGED THE SHOOTER WITH THEIR FIREARMS STRIKING HIM MULTIPLE TIMES CAUSING HIM TO FALL TO THE GROUND. AS THE OFFICERS MADE ENTRY INTO THE BUILDING, THEY HANDCUFFED THE SUSPECT AND SECURED THE SCENE. TRAGICALLY, FIVE VICTIMS WERE SHOT BY THE SUSPECT, FOUR OF THOSE VICTIMS WERE TRANSPORTED TO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND ONE WAS DETERMINED TO BE DECEASED AT THE SCENE. TWO OF THE FOUR VICTIMS THAT WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER LATER SUCCUMBED TO THEIR INJURIES. THE SUSPECT WAS ALSO DETERMINED TO BE DECEASED ON SCENE. HE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS OMAR ENRIQUE SANTA PEREZ, A MALE 29 YEARS OF AGE. WE'RE ASKING AT THIS POINT ANYONE WHO WAS A WITNESS TO THESE EVENTS OR IS IN NEED OF VICTIM SERVICES, ANYONE INVOLVED IN THIS, THEY CAN CONTACT THE CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT'S WITNES ADVOCACY PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY AT THIS POINT IN THE INVESTIGATION, IT IS STILL VERY MUCH AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION. WE ARE STILL PROCESSING EVIDENCE FROM THE SCENE. W HAVE ALSO EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT MR. PEREZ'S RESIDENCE IN NORTH BEND, OHIO, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. WE ARE STILL PROCESSING THAT EVIDENCE AND LOOKING FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN GREATER INSIGHT AS TO THE MOTIVE OF THIS MORNING'S EVENTS. WE ARE ALSO CONFIDENT AT THIS POINT THAT THE SHOOTER ACTED ALONE AND THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL THREATS TO THE PUBLIC I WANT TO AGAIN REITERATE MY PRAISE FOR THE RESPONDING OFFICERS IN THIS ACTIVE SHOOTING INCIDENT. THEIR BRAVERY AND HEROIC ACTIONS STOPPED THIS SHOOTER BEFORE HIS RAMPAGE CONTINUED TO DO MORE HARM. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR FELLOW FIRST RESPONDERS THAT HAVE ALSO AIDED US IN THIS INCIDENT. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK FIRE CHIEF WINSTON AND THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CINCINNATI FIRE DIVISION FOR THEIR HELP, ALSO THE MANY FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT HAVE ALSO OFFERED THEIR ASSISTANCE IN THIS CASE. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FIFTH THIRD BANK WHO FOLLOWED THEIR ACTIVE DUTY TRAINING AND DRILL PROTOCOL AND THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER STAFF WHO RESPONDED TO THIS INFLUX OF VICTIMS AND DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PRESERVE THE LOSS OF LIFE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, THE MEDIA, FOR RELAYING THIS INFORMATION. NEXT STEPS, AS USUAL WE WILL HAVE A MORE DETAILED PRESS CONFERENCE SOMETIME TOMORROW, PROBABLY IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, THERE IS VIDEO THAT WAS CAPTURED. THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THE OFFICERS, THERE IS VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER AT AROUND FOUNTAIN SQUARE, SO OUR INVESTIGATORS ARE HERE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THAT TOGETHER SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT AS TIMELY AS POSSIBLE I BELIEVE THE MAYOR WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP TO WHATEVER QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER AT THIS POINT. MAYOR: IT CONTINUES TO BE A SAD DAY FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE VICTIMS AND THOSE RECOVERING FROM INJURIES AND THE FEAR THAT HAS PLAGUED TOO MANY CITIES HIT HOME TODAY. IT'S HARD FOR IT ALL TO SINK IN, BUT IT REALLY DID HAPPEN. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. AND WE'LL HAVE TO GIVE EXTRA CARE TO THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING LOSS. I DID HAVE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF FIFTH THIRD, GREG CARMICHAEL AND RICH GRATER AND THEY WERE EMOTIONAL IN THEIR PRAISE OF THE CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CINCINNATI FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE BRAVERY THAT THEY SHOWED IN PREVENTING ADDITIONAL LOSS OF LIFE. IT'S CLEAR AND IT WILL BE MORE CLEAR TOMORRW WHEN THE VIDEOS ARE RELEASED JUST HOW SCARY THE SITUATION WAS, THE AMOUNT OF FEAR AND ANXIETY THAT THOSE WHO HAD THE UNLUCKY WRONG PLACE AT WRONG TIME TO BE THERE AT THAT TIME. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ACT OF GROTESQUE VIOLENCE TO INNOCENT PEOPLE AND IT SHOULD FRIGHTEN ALL OF US. IT'S HAPPENED TOO MUCH AROUND THIS COUNTRY AND WE AS A COUNTRY HAVE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO END IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> AGAIN, AS A CITY, WE JUST WANT TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND THE FRIENDS OF THOSE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES TODAY IN THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT. AGAIN, AS EVERYBODY HAS BEEN GIVEN TREMENDOUS PRAISE TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB HERE TODAY. WITHOUT THEIR SWIFT AND TIMELY AND EFFICIENT ACTIONS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. SO WE'RE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THEY DID TODAY. THANKS. REPORTER: CHIEF, THERE ANY INDICATION THAT OMAR HAD ANY DIRECT RELATIONSHIP TO ANY BUSINESSES WITHIN THE TOWER OR IS THIS, THE FIRST APPEARANCE JUST AN INDEPENENT TARGET THAT FACILITY? >> AT THIS POINT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION TO THAT. AGAIN, THE INVESTIGATION IS ONLY HOURS OLD. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY THAT HE IS NOT A CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE FIFTH THIRD BANKING AND WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY EMPLOYMENT OF ANY OF THE OTHER SURROUNDING BUSINESSES. >> DID HE TAKE THE BUS THERE? >> NOT CERTAIN HOW HE GOT THERE. WE DO KNOW THAT HE DID ENTER SEVERAL BUSINESSES AROUND FOUNTAIN SQUARE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER, BUT NOT CERTAIN HOW HE GOT TO FOUNTAIN SQUARE. >> CAN YOU SAY -- >> HE DID ENTER POT BELLY. HE WAS IN THERE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER. DON'T BELIEVE HE WAS IN THERE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT HE WAS IN THERE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE LOBBY OF THE FIFTH THIRD CENTER. >> CHIEF, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE WEAPON, MULTIPLE WEAPONS? >> WHAT WE DO KNOW, IT IS A NINE MILLIMETER SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL THAT HE WAS IN POSSESSION OF. HE DID HAVE MULTIPLE MAGAZINES AND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION. I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT COUNT. I WANT TO SAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF MAYBE 200 ROUNDS. >> DID HE POSSESS THAT LEGALLY? >> BASED UPON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE AT THIS TIME, IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE FIREARM WAS LEGALLY PURCHASED? >> DO YOU KNOW IF IT WAS AN ACT OF TERRORISM OR JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT? >> WE DON'T HAVE ANY INDICATION OF THAT. NOTHING THAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED. THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE IS SOME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES INVOLVED HERE, BUT AGAIN, THE INVESTIGATION IS ONLY HOURS OLD. WE'RE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE MOTIVE. THERE IS NOTHING THAT HAS GIVEN US CONCLUSIVELY AS TO WHY HE WOULD DO SUCH A HORRIFIC THING. >> TELL US ABOUT THE VICTIMS. HAVE YOU GOTTEN IN TOUCH OF ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES? CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THEM IF THEY WORK IN THE BUILDING? >> WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT TOMORROW. I BELIEVE THE NEXT OF KIN OF THE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MORE WITH THAT TOMORROW OUT OF RESPECT TO THE FAMILIES. >> CHIEF, IT MIGHT BE TOO EARLY IN THE INVESTIGATION FOR THIS, BUT THIS GENTLEMAN MAY HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN BY A LOAN THAT HE CAME BACK -- >> NOT THAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED AT THIS POINT. NO CAUSE OR MOTIVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE AT THIS POINT. >> HAD HE BEEN IN THE AREA FOR A WHILE? >> HE BELIEVE HE HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 2015. I'M NOT SURE OF HIS PREVIOUS ADDRESSES. >> ONE MORE QUESTION. >> CAN YOU GIVE ANY INSIGHT INTO HOW LONG THIS ATTACK COULD HAVE BEEN PLANNED OUT? >> WE DON'T KNOW. WE HOPE IN THE COMING DAYS THAT MAYBE WE CAN DETERMINE MORE PABO MOTIVE AND WHAT, AGAIN, WHAT CAUSED HIM TO COMMIT SUCH A HORRIFIC ACT. >> I'M NOT ASKING WHAT YOU RECOVERED THERE, BUT IN THE INVESTIGATION -- >> I CAN TELL YOU AT THIS POINT WHAT HAS BEEN RELAYED TO ME, NOTHING THAT SPEAKS TO MOTIVE. SO WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT. >> CAN YOU GIVE US A RUNDOWN OF HOW YOUR OFFICERS ARE HOLDING UP, THE ONES THAT WERE THERE FIRST? >> I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE OFFICERS, OBVIOUSLY TO GO THROUGH SUCH AN EVENT, YOU ARE SHAKEN UP, BUT THEY RESPONDED TO THEIR TRAINING. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAD DONE AND THEY'RE FINE. THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. >> THERE ARE REPORTS HE HAD HUNDREDS OF ROUNDS ON HIM, IS THAT -- >> THAT'S CORRECT. WE HAVEN'T COUNTED THE EXACT ROUNDS. OUR CRIMINALISTS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT NOW, BUT HE DID HAVE -- LIKE I SAID, HE HAD MULTIPLE MAGAZINES AND HE DID I BELIEVE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF A COUPLE ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION. >> ONE VICTIM WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES? >> I BELIEVE THAT SEVERAL OF THE VICTIMS WERE SHOT MORE THAN ONCE. WE HOPE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT TOMORROW. SO THANK

SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks. Submit Privacy Notice