Downtown Cincinnati Shooting: 4 Dead

WVXU staff

Updated: 5:09 p.m.  

Cincinnati Police responded to a call of an active shooter at the Fifth Third Bank building on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati early Thursday morning. The alleged shooter, identified by Cincinnati police as 29-year-old Omar Perez of Northbend, Ohio, is dead along with three victims. Two others are hospitalized.  

A police spokesman says victims are being treated at UC Medical Center. Thursday afternoon, the hospital shared an update that one patient had been upgraded to fair condition, while another was still in critical condition.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm (ATF) officials arrived to do a sweep of the building. FBI were also on the scene. Police at the time advised people in the area to remain on lockdown until notified it was safe to leave. Police Chief Eliot Isaac said in a news conference that morning that employees in the building were evacuated by police and that he doesn't believe there is any additional threat. A weapon was recovered at the scene.

Isaac added that police have completed securing the building and would be transitioning to an active investigation.

Thursday afternoon, the Hamilton County Sherriff executed a search warrant at the North Bend home of the suspected shooter.

Fountain Square and the surrounding area has been closed to foot traffic and the Cincinnati Police Department has closed some streets. Check the Cincinnati Police Department's Twitter for the latest updates.

The call was received at 9:10 a.m. about shots fired at 38 Fountain Square. Isaac said an individual had entered the loading dock area and fired, then entered the lobby where gunfire was exchanged between the shooter and officers. The gunman did not enter any upper floors.

It is not known if police killed the suspect or if the wound was self-inflicted. No police were injured in the incident. Isaac added that reports of the suspect being a disgruntled employee have not been confirmed.

One witness whose office overlooks Fountain Square heard a noise and thought it was construction crews until he heard the news.

WVXU spoke to Sam McDonald who was walking to his job at the Fifth Third building.

"I was walking past the Chipotle and I had my headphones in when some woman stopped me and said, 'You don't want to go to the square, we just heard gun shots,'" he says. "So I took my headphones out and people were running away from the square and I peered around and about 30 seconds later I heard about five to 10 more gunshots and cops just started running toward the building."

McDonald says his co-workers were told to stay in place and that he saw two men wheeled out on stretchers. He was unsure of their condition.

At Thursday afternoon's city council meeting at City Hall, several council members praised Chief Isaac, his officers and city firefighters for their quick response.

"It is true your people saved lives," Council Member Wendell Young told Isaac, who was at the meeting. There were about 50 citizens in the audience who gave Isaac a standing ovation.