On January 1, 2026, a cherished resident of Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood, 11-year-old QueenEr’Re Reed, lost her life in a tragic shooting incident at Laurel Playground. The shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on New Year’s Day at the intersection of West Liberty Street and John Street, a familiar community spot where children frequently gather to play.
Police were flagged down by witnesses reporting a person shot, and officers arrived to find the young girl suffering from a gunshot wound; first responders immediately transported her to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries despite urgent medical efforts. This senseless act marked Cincinnati’s first homicide of the year and has intensified calls for safety in public spaces meant for children’s recreation.
The incident unfolded while QueenEr’Re was visiting relatives in the West End during the holidays, having traveled from her home in Columbus, Ohio. She was playing with her cousins at Laurel Playground, located just steps from her grandmother’s apartment, when gunfire erupted in the area. Family members described how she had been away from her loved ones for less than half an hour before the tragedy struck, highlighting the sudden and devastating nature of the event.
Police have described the shooting as a “senseless act of violence,” with no confirmed details yet on whether it was targeted, a drive-by, or random, and the exact sequence of events leading to the shots remains under active investigation by the Cincinnati Police Department’s Homicide Unit.
In the immediate aftermath, officers secured the scene while paramedics worked to stabilize QueenEr’Re before rushing her to the hospital. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosiles (ATF) quickly joined the investigation, offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of those responsible, emphasizing the use of all available resources to pursue justice.
Authorities continue to urge anyone with even the smallest detail—sightings, sounds, or other observations—to come forward through Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 or ATF tips lines, as the probe seeks to uncover critical leads in what has become a high-profile case.
This shooting echoes a painful history at Laurel Playground, where in November 2023, another 11-year-old boy, Domonic Davis, was fatally shot nearby in a mass incident that injured several others, with no arrests made to date.
The recurrence of violence in this small neighborhood of about 6,800 residents, which sees 30 to 40 shootings annually, has deepened community anguish and prompted renewed demands for enhanced security measures, including functional surveillance cameras that had been promised but not fully implemented. The lack of immediate suspect information or a clear motive has left questions unanswered, amplifying the sense of vulnerability felt by families in the area.
QueenEr’Re, the only daughter of her mother Chere Williams and a middle child among four siblings, was remembered for her joyful, fearless spirit and natural leadership qualities. She carried the affectionate nickname “Mommy” for her nurturing way of caring for others, often bossing her older brother around with love and confidence. Her bright energy shone through in moments of dancing and smiling just before the tragedy, capturing the innocence of a child who brought light to her family during holiday visits.