During an afternoon vigil in memory of 16-year-old Thomas “T.J.” Bell, dozens of family and friends gathered for food and music after a day of funeral services.
T.J. is a victim of a drive-by shooting. He was shot across from Grant Park on Sept. 16 and died after being taken to the hospital.
In the courtyard of the Wesley Chapel Mission Center in Over-the-Rhine, a black balloon arch surrounded photos of T.J. posing with family and friends along with two near life-sized cutouts of him.
Tara Riddle, T.J.’s great aunt, said he was his mother’s only child.
“He was always quiet in the crowd, twisting his hair,” Riddle said.
Riddle’s grandson was close with T.J., they were often out spending time together and could always be spotted next to each other in photos.
On Oct. 2, a 12-year-old and 15-year-old were injured in a shooting on East McMicken Avenue near Grant Park around 8 p.m., according to Enquirer media partner Fox19. Both are expected to recover.
One of those boys is the same grandson Riddle said was so close to T.J.
Pictures and cutouts of Thomas “T.J.” Bell were placed in the courtyard of Wesley Chapel Mission Center in OTR at a post-funeral gathering on Oct. 3, 2025.
Drive-by shootings in the area
While shootings in Over-the-Rhine are down from last year, the Oct. 2 shooting was the third drive-by shooting in the blocks around Grant Park in the last two months. Two have been fatal.
On Aug. 6, 34-year-old mother of five, Chrishonda Wynn, was shot and killed in the 1600 block of Republic Street from a vehicle. Police said she was not the intended target.
A Cincinnati police spokesperson said the investigation remains open when asked whether an arrest had been made in connection with Wynn’s shooting. Officials previously asked for the public’s help in identifying a suspect.
At the September shooting that killed T.J., a 14-year-old girl was also hospitalized. Cincinnati police charged Davon Marcum, 18, with murder in connection with T.J.’s death.
Over-The-Rhine shootings: What numbers say
Overall, shootings in Over-the-Rhine are down compared to last year, according to a city database.
Thirty shootings in the Cincinnati neighborhood were reported by this time in 2024. Eighteen have been reported in 2025, according to city data last updated on Sept. 28.
Overall, crime in Over-the-Rhine, where thousands of people visit every weekend for dining and nightlife, is up by about 47% compared to last year, according to a city database. Most of the increase is due to rises in car thefts and break-ins.
Pottery studio director Ariana Siereveld said about once a month, nearby apartment residents will ask to review her Over-the-Rhine security cameras after their cars have been broken into.
While some suburban residents have said they’re nervous to visit her business, as someone who’s worked in the neighborhood for the past eight years, Siereveld said crime doesn’t feel worse but people are paying more attention to it.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Drive-by shootings in area around Grant Park have left 2 dead, 3 hurt