Witness describes chaos, going into ‘survival mode’ during Riverfront Live mass shooting
Witnesses, city leaders raise questions about venue security
CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Nine people were hospitalized after a shooting at Riverfront Live, an East End music venue, early Sunday. No arrests have been announced.
Witness Anton Canady said he was inside the venue when gunshots rang out, sending hundreds of people rushing for the exits.
“I went into survival mode,” Canady said.
Canady said the crowd overwhelmed him as people fled.
“They was pushing us and stomping over us,” he said. “I was just trying my best to get up. It’s very hard to do when you have 20 to 40 people running over you trying to save their own life.”
Once outside, Canady said he discovered his cousin had been shot in the leg. He said he used a t-shirt as a tourniquet until help arrived. He said his cousin, one of the nine hospitalized, is expected to be okay.
Security accounts conflict
Riverfront Live owner Tim Jordan said security at the event included three off-duty officers, pat-downs, wands and a metal detector. Canady said he was patted down, but disputed the account of metal detector use.
“Uhmm, no, I would not say that because I was part of helping arrange furniture and get the event set up,” Canady said when asked whether a metal detector and wand were used on him.
City council responds
Cincinnati City Council members said the shooting has prompted urgent conversations about venue safety standards.
“This becomes a moment of cultural clarity — of what does it mean to operate safe environments for all of us,” said Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michelle Lemon Kearney.
The vice mayor said businesses and city leaders need to work together on the issue.
“All business owners also want their establishments to be safe,” she said. “They don’t want this either — so whatever we can do to work together to be safe, that’s our top priority.”
Council Member Meeka Owens said Riverfront Live had no prior complaints on record.
Canady said he is working to mobilize a ceasefire effort in Cincinnati, seeking at least one day without gun violence in the community.
“We want to try to create more days where there are no gunshots happening in our community,” Canady said. “This is getting out of control.”
Police have not announced any arrests.
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