UPDATE: Police ID Gunman Who Killed Three, Injured Two In Downtown Cincinnati

UPDATE: Five victims were shot at the Fifth Third Center on Fountain Square Thursday morning. The gunman is dead after being engaged by police.

An active shooter shot multiple people at the Fifth Third Center on Cincinnati's Fountain Square on Thursday, September 6. Photo by The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Update published at 5:04 p.m.: 

Police have identified the man responsible for Thursday's mass shooting in downtown Cincinnati as Omar Perez, reports WLWT-TV

The 29-year-old who was living in an apartment in North Bend was said to be carrying several hundreds of rounds of ammunition as he killed three people and critically injured two others at the Fifth Third Center located on Fountain Square just after 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning. 

Police responded quickly and exchanged gunfire with Perez, who was also pronounced dead at the scene. 

Investigators searched Perez's North Bend apartment this afternoon. Perez is not believed to have had any affiliation with Fifth Third Bank and a motive for the mass shooting has yet to be determined. 

 

Update published at 11:31 a.m.:

Cincinnati Police are confirming that three victims are dead, as well as the suspect in a shooting that broke out near the city’s Fountain Square Thursday morning.

The first call about an active shooter at the Fifth Third Center came in at about 9:10 a.m., according to Cincinnati Police Chief Elliot Isaac. The shooter was firing in the lobby and the loading dock.

Three civilians were fatally shot. Two people were injured.

Officers rushed to the scene. Three to four officers engaged the shooter. The suspect was shot and was later pronounced dead.

Isaacs said it was unclear if the suspect was shot by police or if the fatal wound was self-inflicted.

Police have not given a possible motive for the shooting.

“Horrific, grotesque, unacceptable,” Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said of the shooting. “I think there's something sick at work here, and we as a country have got to deal with it.”

The two shooting victims not killed were in serious or critical condition at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, which received four of the victims. The victims were three males and one female.

“Our physicians and staff are focused on caring for the patients and their families. We prepare for situations like there and hope they never happen. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and all involved,” a statement from the hospital said.

The scene downtown has been secured. Any lockdowns in the vicinity were being lifted.

All events planned Thursday for Fountain Square have been canceled.

 

Original story published at 10:19 a.m.:

(Cincinnati, Oh.) - Reports say at least two people are dead and at least three others wounded in what's been described as an active shooter situation in downtown Cincinnati.

Officers were called to the Fountain Square Fifth Third Tower location around 9:15 a.m. after shots were heard in the building lobby 

The suspected shooter has reportedly been taken into custody. Police said the suspect has been shot, but there are conflicting reports on whether that person is dead or alive. It is unclear if the suspect was shot by police or their self.

Surrounding streets have been closed while the investigation continues. SWAT officers were clearing the Fifth Third Center.

No officers were injured in responding to the shooting.

 

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