Police said hundreds were inside when shots rang out just after 1 a.m. Sunday.
CINCINNATI, OH — Nine people were injured early Sunday when shots were fired inside Riverfront Live, a nightclub and concert venue along the Ohio River, Cincinnati police said. Officers rushed in after 911 calls around 1 a.m., and the victims were taken to hospitals as investigators searched for a suspect.
The shooting unfolded in a crowded room and left city leaders facing fresh questions about security at nightlife events and how a gun got inside a venue that hosts large crowds. Police have not announced any arrests and have released few details about what sparked the gunfire, saying the case is active and interviews are continuing. Federal agents were also brought in to assist as detectives collected video, traced the path of the shooter and tried to identify witnesses from a crowd estimated in the hundreds.
Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie said dispatchers received reports of multiple shots fired inside Riverfront Live, in the 4300 block of Kellogg Avenue on Cincinnati’s East End. Hennie said about 500 to 600 people were at the venue at the time. Detail officers were already outside when the shots rang out, and additional police and medics converged on the building and its parking lots as people poured out into the night.
Nine people were shot and taken to UC Medical Center or Good Samaritan Hospital, Hennie said. He told reporters later Sunday that all nine were in stable condition. Early reports from medical officials and local outlets suggested one victim initially was listed in critical condition before the city’s later update described no one as critical. Police did not release the victims’ names, ages or other identifying details Sunday, and officials did not say where inside the venue the victims were hit.
Riverfront Live sits near the intersection of Kellogg Avenue and Wilmer Avenue, an area that mixes industrial lots and riverfront roadways with late-night entertainment. The venue describes itself as an indoor-outdoor concert space, and it advertises shows across several music genres. Police said the building was crowded when the shooting happened, and investigators said they were working to determine how many shots were fired and whether more than one weapon was involved.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was assisting Cincinnati police, officials said. Investigators typically bring in federal partners in shootings that involve complex ballistics work, suspected trafficking or the need for additional resources, though police did not outline the specific reason for federal involvement in this case. Hennie declined to provide key investigative details, including a suspect description, saying investigators did not want to jeopardize efforts to identify and locate the shooter.
Witness accounts described a fast-moving scene that left many people scrambling for cover. A nearby business owner, Gage Skillman, said surveillance cameras at his shop captured a large group fleeing the area, along with the sounds of screams and gunfire. “That is hard to listen to,” Skillman said of the recordings, adding that he heard cars racing out of the parking lot as the situation unfolded.
Other witnesses described confusion in the moments before and after the shots. Some said they noticed arguments and pushing inside earlier in the night and then heard a burst of gunfire that sent people rushing toward exits. As police moved in, attendees scattered into nearby lots and businesses. In the aftermath, people used phones to try to locate friends and relatives while emergency crews triaged the wounded and directed others away from the scene.
City officials stressed that the investigation was still in its early stages. Mayor Aftab Pureval said in a statement that the shooting was “senseless” and thanked officers, first responders and hospital staff for their actions. Cincinnati City Council member Meeka Owens called the shooting a tragedy and said the families of the injured would face a long recovery. Officials did not announce any immediate policy changes, but the shooting renewed focus on violence around entertainment venues and the strain such incidents place on police and emergency medical systems.
Questions about security were central by Sunday afternoon. Some attendees and relatives said they believed the venue had screening in place, including pat-downs, and wondered how a weapon got past staff. The owner of the venue, Tim Jordan, said he was devastated that people were hurt and said Riverfront Live uses a metal detector and security staff, but he could not explain how the suspect entered with a gun. Jordan said the shooting appeared targeted rather than random, though he said he did not know what led to it.
Police did not confirm a motive or describe any relationship between the shooter and the victims. Investigators also did not say whether the gunfire erupted after a dispute, whether alcohol was a factor, or whether the shooter fired from one location or moved through the building. Hennie said detectives were still interviewing victims and witnesses and reviewing surveillance video from nearby businesses and cameras in the area, a process that can take days as investigators try to match faces, clothing and vehicles to known identities.
The event taking place inside the venue was described by some organizers and attendees as a birthday celebration featuring music and a late-night crowd. Police did not publicly identify the event host Sunday, and officials cautioned that initial accounts can shift as investigators separate rumor from confirmed evidence. Detectives also worked to build a timeline by matching 911 calls, officer radio traffic and hospital intake records to determine how quickly victims were treated and moved out of the venue.
Sunday’s shooting followed a familiar pattern for large-venue investigations: stabilize victims, secure the scene, identify and separate witnesses, and preserve evidence before a crowd or weather can wash it away. Crime scene tape remained up around parts of the property as investigators photographed shell casings and collected other items from inside and outside. Officers canvassed nearby roads for cameras that might have caught vehicles leaving the area, and detectives asked anyone with video to share it with police.
Officials said the public was not believed to be at ongoing risk, but they did not provide the basis for that assessment. Police also did not say whether the shooter had fled on foot, left in a vehicle or blended into the crowd. In incidents involving hundreds of people, investigators often face the challenge of locating witnesses who left quickly and may be reluctant to return. Hennie said investigators needed time and cooperation to identify those responsible.
The shooting also raised concerns for business owners and residents who live and work along the river corridor. Late-night events can draw large crowds and heavy traffic, and the East End’s long, narrow roadways can bottleneck when people leave suddenly. Some nearby workers said they had not immediately realized the sound was gunfire until they saw people running. Others said they later learned the shots had come from inside the venue and were shocked that so many were hurt in a short burst of violence.
In the hours after the shooting, the scene shifted from chaos to investigation. Tow trucks and police vehicles lined parts of Kellogg Avenue while officers directed traffic and checked the area for anyone who might still need help. Families gathered at hospitals and waited for updates. Police said the victims were expected to survive, but the injuries left lasting trauma for those who were inside, along with an urgent demand for answers about what happened and who was responsible.
Authorities said no arrests had been announced as of late Sunday, and officials did not give a timetable for releasing more information. Police said the next steps included continued interviews, analysis of surveillance footage and ballistics work, and coordination with federal partners. Investigators also expected to review any security logs and staffing records from the venue to understand screening procedures and staffing levels during the event.
As the case moved forward, leaders emphasized accountability and support for the victims. “I am so thankful that no one lost their lives during this horrific event,” Hennie said, calling the outcome a relief even as the city grappled with the reality that nine people were shot during a night out. Officials said updates would be shared as investigators confirmed details and worked to locate the shooter.
By Sunday night, Riverfront Live’s parking lots were quieter, but detectives continued working the case and reviewing evidence gathered from a crowd that police said numbered in the hundreds. Police said they expected more witness interviews in the coming days as they sought to identify the shooter and determine what sparked the gunfire.
Author note: Last updated March 1, 2026.