Cincinnati killings more than double 2019 as coronavirus pandemic continues

Homicides in Cincinnati have increased 131% so far this year compared with the same period in 2019.

From Jan. 1 to April 28, there have been 30 homicides in the city. During that same time last year, 13 people were killed, according to data from the Cincinnati Police Department. 

Two homicides were confirmed Tuesday in Cincinnati: one in Mount Auburn and one in Winton Terrace. 

Police Chief Eliot Isaac spoke at City Hall on Tuesday at the Law & Public Safety Committee to address the rise in violence.

Isaac explained that stay-at-home orders have hampered the police department's preventive tactics.

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Under normal circumstances, police distribute flyers and engage with the community in large-scale sweeps. At-risk individuals and those with known violent connections would also be called in to talk to a police officer.

"The preventative end is a challenge," Isaac said.

The gunshot detection system called ShotSpotter was also scheduled to go active in Westwood around this time, but progress there has been delayed. The chief said it is not only more difficult to install and test the system, but there are also financial concerns.

Eliot explained that "natural surveillance" has also been impacted by the stay-at-home order. There are fewer people out, fewer potential witnesses to crimes. The lack of witnesses may also encourage criminals to be more brazen.

Shootings are also up over 50% compared with 2019.

These increases are amplified by the historically low violent crimes numbers of 2018 and 2019. From Jan. 1 to April 28, Cincinnati saw the lowest number of homicides in a decade, compared with year to date data.

There was not a single homicide in April 2019. 2016 and 2017 show data similar to this year.

Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman, the Law & Public Safety Committee chairman,  took a moment of silence after Isaac's presentation to honor the dead.

"These are not just statistics. These are real people," he said.

Smitherman explained that some haven't even had funeral services due to restrictions meant to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Isaac said his officers are working with community partners and doing everything they can to continue preventive efforts while Ohio's stay-at-home order is in place.

Councilman Jeff Pastor said there are limits on what police and government can do.

"It's time (for) the community to rise up and say, 'Enough is enough.' Police can only do so damn much," Pastor said.

"Say something about it. These are young African American people whose lives have been cut short."

Of those killed in Cincinnati this year, 19 have been black males, seven were black females and two were white females, according to Isaac. Six of those women died in April.