Newport Assistant Police Chief Herschel Day updated the Newport Commission on the three shootings in the city this year at the meeting on Oct. 21.
Day said there has been a lot of misinformation floating around on social media and wanted to provide an update on the three cases. He said to keep in mind that all three cases remain open, which limits the information he is allowed to share. Day’s update comes after the most recent shooting occurred on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 8th and Isabella Street in Newport.
“I know sometimes we don’t give updates as needed on these cases on social media; However, these are all open cases, and we do not want to do anything to jeopardize these cases,” Day said. “These are very serious cases.”
The first shooting occurred on March 16 at Newport on the Levee where three juveniles were shot.
“What I can tell you is that we have a juvenile that has been identified,” Day said. “He is in custody, he’s been charged, and he’s currently going through the judicial system right now, and that is an open case.”
Day said those involved were from Cincinnati.
Earlier this month, on Oct. 12, there was a shooting that occurred on Isabella Street. According to a press release from the Newport Police Department, a male victim arrived by private vehicle at the Newport Fire Department with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was transported to the University of Cincinnati Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
“I can tell you that all parties involved in this have been identified,” Day said. “The shooting is probably not what you would think it is. This isn’t a random shooting. This isn’t a drive-by or juveniles. This was a case of domestic violence. We’re going let this play out through the court systems.”
Day said those involved were a mix of Newport and Cincinnati residents.
For the most recent incident, which occurred on Oct. 20, Day said the police department has identified a person of interest they are looking for, and the case remains open.
The incident, according to a Newport Police Department press release, said a group of individuals leaving a bar were involved in an altercation, during which the suspect fired a gun, injuring two people. The injuries were non-life threatening, and the suspect fled the scene prior to the officer’s arrival.
Day said the suspect is not a resident of Newport.
Anyone with information is advised to contact Newport Detective Scott Wiggins or leave information anonymously by calling the tip line at (859) 261-8477
“It’s a concern to all of us, and I think when I hear it described in the context of Newport being pretty much in the center of our metropolitan area and the work that our police department is doing and keeping up on the ongoing investigations, I feel that it is being handled,” Newport Commissioner Julie Smith-Morrow said. “It’s all being handled very well, and it doesn’t take away concerns.”
Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said the police department posts updated information on social media. That is typically done via press releases on its Facebook page, which can be found here.
“It is a question that we get, and again, we take this very seriously, and it is a challenge that pretty much every community and the country and maybe the world is facing right now, but definitely our country,” Guidugli Jr. said. “I noticed that you have put out things on social media occasionally, and I think that is a good approach because it does keep people connected.”
