Bond Hill teen shooting victim remembered as ‘playful,’ ‘funny’ at high school vigil

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Classmates remembered Ja’mir Thompkins as playful, funny and motivated during a vigil in his memory on Friday at Dohn Community High School in Bond Hill.

Thompkins, 15, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting on Thursday on Paddock Road near the Regent Avenue intersection, according to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office. Another teen was shot and wounded.

Those at the vigil were angry and upset, not just with Thompkins’s death, but the increase in violence that’s led to seven juveniles killed by shootings this year in Cincinnati.

“I believe there needs to be a change and there also needs to be justice,” Jas Bush said.

One friend of Thompkins said he was with him when the shooting happened.

“I’ve got a lot of anger,” Robert Kelly said. “I miss his hoking, him capping all day. We played every sport together. He made us understand that everybody is special.”

A three-sport athlete, Thompkins was given the affectionate nickname of “Bam.” He played football and basketball and ran track. According to friends and school staff, he wanted to earn a scholarship to college.

“He was like my little brother,” said Cordell Pollard, a friend and teammate of Thompkins. “Blood couldn’t make us any close. He was always with me no matter what. Protect your family. Like, even if it’s a stranger, look out for them. Always, always be respectful. Nobody wants to be in this predicament.”

Cincinnati police said the investigation into the double-shooting is ongoing.

They haven’t released an update on the condition of the surviving victim.

Call the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit at 513-352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 if you have information on the shooting.

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