6 people shot near Ohio high school reunion, investigators say

Ohio: Early Monday in East Cleveland, Ohio, six people were injured in a series of shootings that occurred near a high school class reunion, according to police. The incidents unfolded around 1 a.m. as alumni of Shaw High School gathered for their annual reunion, with gunfire erupting in the area.

East Cleveland Acting Police Chief Kenneth D. Lundy reported that officers responding to the scene initially found a man who had been shot. While investigating, they also located a woman nearby with multiple gunshot wounds. Both victims received on-site treatment from paramedics before being transported to the hospital.

Approximately an hour later, officers heard heavy gunfire coming from a nearby Mobil gas station, close to Shaw High School. Upon arrival, they discovered three more victims with gunshot wounds, who were subsequently taken to the hospital by police or in private vehicles.

At around 2:30 a.m., officers were alerted to a location several blocks away from the gas station, where they found a sixth shooting victim, who was also hospitalized.

Lundy confirmed that no arrests have been made in connection with the shootings. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved. Authorities are urging anyone who was in the area at the time of the shootings to contact the East Cleveland Detective Bureau.

The incident prompted a response from law enforcement agencies in neighboring communities. East Cleveland City Council President Twon Billings told ABC affiliate WEWS in Cleveland that the Shaw High School reunion, which is a weekend-long event bringing together graduates and community members of all ages, was marred by the violence.

Billings expressed his devastation over the shootings and suggested that a local police shortage may have contributed to the events. “There needs to be a strong presence here,” Billings said. “When you have thousands of people passing through the city and minimal enforcement, it creates a vulnerable situation. We had to rely on mutual aid from Cleveland Heights, University Heights, and various other emergency services. It’s a tragic shame that so many people were shot.”