News Summary
A mass shooting after the Cleveland Browns’ home opener left six injured, with three in serious condition. Mayor Justin Bibb condemned the violence, and Play Bar & Grill was closed due to safety concerns. The incident is under investigation as police report multiple shooters were involved. Tensions rise as the bar’s co-owner disputes the city’s claims regarding the events leading up to the shooting.
Cleveland – A mass shooting that occurred shortly after the Cleveland Browns home opener resulted in six individuals being injured, prompting a swift response from city officials, including Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. The incident took place around 6:15 p.m. on West 10th Street, leaving three of the injured in serious condition, including a 21-year-old man believed to be the gunman.
In the aftermath, Play Bar & Grill, which was located near the shooting site, was boarded up under an emergency order issued by the city, citing public safety concerns. Mayor Bibb expressed his outrage over the shooting and committed to ensuring accountability for those responsible.
David Hill, co-owner of Play Bar & Grill, contended that the shooting did not originate inside or directly outside his establishment. He shared that surveillance video aligns with his claim, showing no fights occurring at the bar during the incident. Hill criticized the mayor’s actions as “malicious,” attributing them to a broader pattern of what he termed “misinformation” from the mayor’s office.
Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd noted that law enforcement believes the incident started at Play Bar & Grill, although the specifics of their findings were not disclosed. Safety manager Westley Carter indicated that the bar had previously called for assistance from firefighters due to overcrowding before the shooting began. He highlighted a notable absence of police presence in the area, stating that there was “absolutely no police presence” at the critical time leading up to the incident.
Video footage from the bar captured the chaos as patrons fled from the gunfire, and bystanders became involved in a confrontation that escalated into violence in the street. Upon investigation, police recovered approximately 40 shell casings from four different weapons, suggesting multiple shooters were involved in the shooting.
The closure order for Play Bar & Grill did not require judicial approval, according to Cleveland Law Director Mark Griffin, marking a decisive response due to prior incidents involving the bar. Earlier, Play Bar & Grill had faced citations for various violations, which were either public safety issues or related to the bar’s operations. Mayor Bibb underscored that the decision to board up the establishment was justified by concerns for public safety.
Hill argued that the emergency closure disproportionately targeted his bar, which is the only Black-owned business in the vicinity, and circumvented due process by closing it without prior notice to the owners. He announced plans to contest the emergency order, asserting it was unjust and lacked the necessary legal backing.
The incident took place in a busy area known as the Flats, with an estimated attendance of around 100,000 people gathering for the Cleveland Browns game. This large turnout may have contributed to the chaotic environment leading to the shooting.
In further developments, it was reported that the 21-year-old suspect shot in the gunfire received injuries to his abdomen, hand, hip, and thigh. He was subsequently taken into police custody.
This mass shooting follows a prior incident near Play Bar & Grill that Hill maintains was not related to the bar’s activities. As the city continues to navigate the aftermath of this violence, officials maintain a focus on public safety and accountability to prevent similar events in the future.
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Additional Resources
- News 5 Cleveland
- Wikipedia: Mass Shootings in the United States
- Cleveland 19
- Google Search: Play Bar & Grill Cleveland
- USA Today
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Shooting Incident
- ABC News
- Google News: Cleveland Shooting
- Fox 8 News
- Google Scholar: Gun Violence in Ohio
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