News Summary
A shooting incident at Play Bar & Grill in Cleveland’s The Flats injured six people, including the suspected gunman. Eyewitnesses described chaos as crowds fled amidst gunfire during a busy evening following a Browns game. The police investigation indicates a prior altercation took place, prompting safety concerns about policing in the area. Authorities intend to address public safety following the incident.
Cleveland – A shooting incident on Sunday evening outside Play Bar & Grill in The Flats left six people injured, including the suspected gunman. The violence erupted around 6:15 p.m. near 1051 W. 10th Street, coinciding with a busy day where approximately 100,000 people were in downtown Cleveland attending a Browns game.
The victims of the shooting range in age from 16 to 45 years. Among those injured are a 21-year-old woman who was shot in the foot, a 44-year-old man shot in the knee, a 22-year-old man shot in the thigh, an 18-year-old woman shot in the abdomen, and a 16-year-old boy who suffered injuries to his teeth. The suspected shooter, a 21-year-old man, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen, hand, hip, and thigh and is currently in police custody.
Police were alerted to gunfire shortly after Cleveland Fire was dispatched to the area due to overcrowding at the bar. Eyewitness accounts and video footage revealed chaotic scenes, with crowds fleeing toward the bar as shots rang out and several cars struck by gunfire. Investigators recovered at least 40 shell casings from four different caliber weapons at the crime scene.
Initially, reports stated that five victims were injured, but this was later corrected to six. All victims were transported by Cleveland EMS to a local hospital, although their current conditions have not been disclosed. Eyewitness Mike Hamme described a harrowing escape as he narrowly avoided injury in his vehicle during the shooting.
A preliminary investigation indicates that the shooting was preceded by an altercation inside Play Bar & Grill. In the aftermath, the city ordered the bar to be boarded up overnight as a safety measure. The managing partner of Play Bar & Grill, David Hill, criticized the closure as racially motivated, arguing that the bar had no connection to the incident.
Cleveland Law Director Mark Griffin clarified that the decision was based on public safety concerns, citing previous incidents involving the establishment. Security personnel at Play Bar & Grill noted a lack of police presence in The Flats during the incident following the Browns game, raising questions about adequate law enforcement resources in the area.
Cleveland Police are actively investigating the shooting and anticipate making additional arrests related to the incident. Authorities utilized a drone to search for evidence in the vicinity of the shooting, underscoring the seriousness of the investigation. Police are also examining whether sufficient law enforcement resources were deployed in The Flats at the time of the shooting.
The shooting highlights ongoing safety concerns in crowded urban areas, particularly during major events, and emphasizes the need for effective policing to prevent such violent outbreaks. The investigation remains underway, and further updates are expected as evidence is collected and analyzed.
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Additional Resources
- Cleveland 19 News
- News 5 Cleveland
- Cleveland.com
- WKYC News
- Fox 8 News
- Wikipedia: Shooting
- Google Search: Mass Shooting in Cleveland
- Google Scholar: Urban Shooting Safety
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Shooting
- Google News: Cleveland Shooting September 2025
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