Customers describe moments shooting took place outside Target in Oakley

>> DOWN HERE AT THE TARGET STORE OUTSIDE OAKLEY WITH ASHLEY. AT 1 O’CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON, THERE IS A LOT OF CHAOS, POLICE CRUISERS FROM ALL OF THE GREATER CINCINNATI COMING DOWN HERE. TURNS OUT WE LEARN FROM POLICE, IT WAS A SUSPECT LOOKING FOR A RSPE, ON FINDING A PERSON, SHOOTING AND KILLING THAT PERSON RIG HTOUT HERE IN FRONT OF THE TARGET STORE. SADLY, SOMETHING WE SEE ALL O TOOFTEN ON CHANNEL 5. A SITUATION LIKE THAT, OR SOMEBODY’S TARGETING SOMEONE AND KILLING THEM. IT ISTHE SECOND WHERE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORING STORES HEARD THE GUNFIRE AND ARE THINKING, OH NO, HERE WE GO AGAIN, IT IS WHAT WE WATCH ON NATIONAL TV. >> AND WAS A COUPLE HOURS OF NOT KNOWING TRULY WHAT S WATHE SCENE UNTIL POLICE BRIEFED US ABOUT THAT. WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED TO THE SCENE, IT WAS CHAOC. WE WERE AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND JETTED OVER WHEN WE GOT THE CL ALTHAT WHAT WAS GOING ON, WE GOT HERE ABOUT FIVE MIN ESLATER. POLICE WERE HERE RUNNING INTO THAT TARGET WITH HIGH POWERED ARMOR THERE IN BY ODARMOR, A HEAVY PRESENCE HERE ON THE SCENE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS REALLY GOINGN. O >> THROUGHOUT THE NEXT COUPLE HOUR S,WE WOULD HEAR STORIES OF PEOPLE WERE IN THE STORE, ALERTING OTHER PEOPLE, RUNNING OUTSIDE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO GET THE LAY OF THE LAND FROM THE INTERIM POLICE CHIEF WHO WAS HERE A SHORT TIME AGO TO ALERT THE MEDIA AS TO WH AT HAPPEN.ED >> HOUR 911 CENTER STARD TE RECEIVING 911 CALLS FROM WITNESSES THATHERE T WAS AN INDIVIDU ALFIRING A GUN IN THE AR OF THE TARGET STORE IN THE OAKLEY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CL AL CAME IN IN SUCH A MANNER THAT LED US TO BELIEVE IT WAS AN TIAC VESHOOTER SITUATN. IOIT WAS DIATSPCHED AS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION. WE WERE IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO GET AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES. CINCINNATI FIRE RESOURCES HERE TO HANDLE IT. ONCE WE ARRIVED ON SCE, NEWE DETERMINED IT WAS NOT AN ACTIVE SHOOTER INVESTIGATION. IT WAS A SHOOTER WITH AN INTEND EDTARGET, HE FIRED HIS GUN AND HIT THAT INDIVIDUAL IN THE PARKING LOT JUST OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOO OF RS THE STOR E.THE SHOOTING DID NOT OCCUINR SIDE THE TARGET, AND MANY OF THOSE EMPLOYEES AND PATRONS INSIDE THE STORE WE RE NOT HARMED. NOBODY INSIDE THE STORE WAS HARMS. HE ONLY FIRED AND SH OTAT HIS INTENDED TARGET. >> YOU DO HAVE PEOPLE TT HAARE INNOCENT SHOPPERS OUT HERE WN HE THIS HAPPENS. TA LKABOUT THAT ASPECT, IS ANYONE DEAD OR HT.UR >> HE TINTENDED TARGET I WAS OT HAS SINCE PASSED. UNFORTUNATELY HE HAS PASD.SE HOWEVER, NO WITNESSES, EMPLOYEES, OR PATRONS WERE HARMED. THEY WERE EXTREMELY INTELLIGT ENAND THAT THEY CALLED POLICE SERVICES IMMEDIATELY. ITHE N MEANTIME, EMPLOYEES AND SHOPPERS DID THE RIGHT THING. THEY SHELTER IN ACPLE INSIDE THE TARGET STORE. BECAUSE THEY DID THAT, ONCE WE SECURE THE SCENE AND WE GOTHE T VICTIM FIRE HELP, WE USE OUR PERSONNEL TO CLEAR THE BUILDING. THAT IS A MASSE IV BUILDING, SO OUR SWAT RESOURCES WERE VERY METHODICAL IN CLEARING THE BUILDING. IT ALSO HAS A SECOND FLOOR, SO VERY TIME━CONSUMING, BUT THEY DID A GREAT JOB ENSURING THAT THERE WE RENO OTHER VICTIMS IE.IDNS I KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT MORE SPECIFIC THAN WHAT I’VE ALREADY GIVEN YOU, I WL ILTELL YOU, THIS IS A VE RYACTI VEINVESTIGATION. THE RESOURCES ARE STILL ONHE T SCENE, SO I REALLY DO NOT HAVE ADDITIONAL FACTS. >> WE HAVE ONE MA WLEHO IS A VICTIM OF IS, THAND THE SUSPECTED SHOOTETHE R MAIL AS WELLIS . THAT PERSON IN CUSTO?DY >> THE SUSPECT HAS LEFT THIS AREA, BUT HE IS NOT IN CUSTODY. THEYEF LT IN THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHOOTING HIS VICTIM. NOBODY IN THIS AREA RIT GHNOW IS IN DANGER. >> THERE WAS THIS MASSIVE POLICE RESPONSE, IN WHAT IS TRADITIONALLY A WHITE AREA, WHEREAS IF A PERSON S WASHOT IN ANOTHER AREA, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE. TO THOSE O WH ARE CRITICAL LIKE THAT, WHAT WOULD YOU Y. >> I DISAGREE WITH THAT. NO MATTER WHERE THIS INCIDENT WAS, WE WOULD RESPOND JUST AS WE DID TOY.DA >> A NDWHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE SUSPECT? >> IT IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, WE ARE STIL L INVESTIGATING THAT PIECE. >>S IAS A PERSON SOMEDY BO SHOULD BE CONCERNEABOUD >> ANYTI MEANYBY ODDISPATCHES A FIREARM, PEOPLE SHOULD HONESTLY BE CONCNEERD. BUT HE LEFT THIS AREA, WE DO NOT KNOW HIS IDENTITY AT THIS TIME, BUT NO. THERE ISO NNEED TO BE CONCERD.NE >> THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT A BLACK KID, DID THAT HAVE TO DO WITHHIS? >> I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE VICTIM, HIS AGE OR HIS NAME. >> WE ARE HEARG INFROM MEMBERS OF A GYM THAT THIS INCIDENT STARTED IN THAT GYM AND SPILLED OV TERO THE TARGET PARKING LOT WHICH PROMPTED THE SHOG.IN >> THE FOCUS WAS IN FRONT OF THE TAET, RGBECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION WAS RELAYED TO US. ONCE THAT SCENE IS SECU D,I KNOW OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO PATRONS AT THE SPORTS FACILITY, BUT THAT WILL BE WRAPPED UP ONCE THIS ISON D >> HOW ABO TUTRAFFIC CONTROL RIGHT W >> HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU EXPECT UNTIL THE RESOURCES ARE FISHNI >> I WOULD SAY MINIMUM, AN HOUR. WE TRY TO GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, BUT OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS TO BE THOROU.GH >> CAN YOU TALK OUT ABTHE WITNESSES INSIDE THE STORE WHO OVERHEARD THIS, NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. HOW WILL THE PEOP LE PLAY A PART IN THE INVESTIGATION? >> BECAUSE THERE WERE SOMANY WITNESSES, WE WOULD TYPICALLY TAKEITNESS WES DOWN TO OUR CIS FOR THEMO TBE INTERVIEW, EDBUT BECAUSE ERTHE WERE SO MANY THERE TODAY, WE LEFT THEM HERE AT THE SCENE. WE GOT A BUS TO PUT THEM ON, AND WE BROUGHT THE INVESTIGATORS HERE. THEY ARE INTERVIEWING THE WITNESSES AND RELEASING THEM FROM THE SCENE AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN AFTER THEY TALK TO THEM. >> SO THERE YOU HAVE IT, INTERIM POLICE CHIEF ABOUT TWO HOURS AFTER E THINCIDENT IN FRONT OF THIS TARGET IN OAKLEY. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 1 O’CLOCK. SOMEBY ODSHOT AND KILLED OUTSIDE OF E THTARGET STORE HERE. IT IS THE MOMENTS OF NOT KNOWING, AND ACTUALLY TALK TO SO MANY PEOPLE HERE. IT IS SUCH A BUSY AREA, INCLUDING A GRANDMA WHO HAS AN INTERESTING STY.OR >> SHE WAS HERE IN THE AR EA HAVE HER SON’S HOUSE, AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER WORKED HERE, HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS 19 YEARS OLD ANHAD BEEN PREPARING FOR THINGS LIKE THIS FOR YEARS. SHE HAS BEEN IN SCHOOL PREPARING FOR ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATIONS AND OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A FEAR OF HERS. LET’S LISTEN TO R.HE >> FIRST, WE DIDN’T HEAR MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT WE WERE ALL WATCHING IT INTHE BREAK ROOM, MY BOYFRIEND MOM CALLED ME AND SAID THERE IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER AT TGEARI JUST REMAID,NE FIRST, BUT ENTHSHE TOLD ME, YOUR GRANDMA’S NEAR THE AREA, IN SE CAYOU NTWA TO HURRY UP AND LEAVE. IEVACUATED OUT OF THE SIDE DOORF OMEYER. >> DID YOUR MEYER SUPERVISOR TE YOULL TO GET T?OU >> AT FIRST THEY EVACUATED ALL E THCUSTOMERS, THEY MADE SURE EVERY CUSTOMER WAS OUT, AND I WENT OUT WITH THE CUSTOMERS JUST IN CASE IF I WANT EDTO LEAVE I WOULD BE ABLE TO, SO SO THAT’S WHAT I D.ID >> AND YOU CALL YOUR GRANDMA >> SHE WAS READY IN THE AREA. >> I STOPPED BY MY SON’S HOUSE AND HESAID, THERE HAS BEEN A SHOOTING UP ON TT.ARGE I SAID, OH MY GOODNESS, I THOUGHT OFHER AND HIM. MY MIND IS JUST CRAZY. SO I COME UP HERE, I AMBLE ATO GET IN. I GO DOWN TO MEYER, AND THEY WERE DISCHARGING CUSTOMER AS,ND I TOLD THE GENTLEMAN THAT I HAD A GRANDDAUGHTEIN TR HERE AND THAT I WOULD LIKEO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON, WHAT SHOULD WE DO. I HEARD SHE WALKED OUT THE DOOR, AND I FELT SO MUCH BETTER. I WAS JUST JITTERY, TOO MUCH GOING ON. WE ARE ON OUR WAY OUT OF HERE W. I DROVE UP IN HERE, GOT THROUGH HERE, AND WAS ABLE TO T GETO MEYER FIRST, AND THEN SHE WAS DISCHARGED SO I WAS AB TO LEBE HERE WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW. >> AND DID YOU GUYS WAVE TO EACH

Customers describe moments shooting took place outside Target in Oakley

Updated: 6:35 AM EDT Mar 18, 2022

One person is dead after a shooting in the parking lot of Target in Cincinnati’s Oakley neighborhood.It happened around 12:30 p.m. at the Target on Geier Drive.Interim Cincinnati police Chief Teresa Theetge said initial calls led them to believe it was an active shooting situation but they later confirmed it was a targeted shooting in the parking lot of the store. “The calls came in as such a manner that led us to believe it was an active shooter situation, that was dispatched as an active shooter situation,” Theetge said. “Once we arrived on scene we determined it was not an active shooter incident.”Theetge said the shooter shot one person, their intended target, in the parking lot of the store and fled the scene. They said the shooter is a man but they don’t know their identity at this time.The shooting victim was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he later died. Police later identified him as Alias Phillips, 24.Aside from Phillips, no one else was injured in the shooting.But customers and witnesses nearby are rattled. Customers inside the store said they heard gunshots and immediately took action.”I got a haircut, went to Target and three minutes after I walked in I hear a dozen rapid-fire gunshots and I think most people assumed it was inside, toward the entrance so basically everyone ran back and people were trying to find places to hide or exit so I hid in jeans for like 2o, 30 minutes maybe then we got the call we were clear to walk out,” Grace Robinson said.Two people who frequent the gym next door said this is very uncommon for this area.”Our reaction was kind of nervous, kind of scared, we typically come here all the time like five to six times out of the week and just to see this is not normal,” one witness said.”Always being aware of your surroundings is very important, especially as a female too, because anything like this can happen,” another witness said. One person who was inside the store at the time shared their experience.”I was just shopping, looking for a shirt for St. Patrick’s Day and I was just checking out and heard gunshots. You could hear seven or eight of them go off. I just grabbed my phone and wallet and ran to the back of the store and tried letting people know as I ran and just found the first exit and left.”Another customer said she hid in the back of the store.”I have three kids so I thought I wasn’t going to make it. I don’t know what went through my mind. I heard someone got hurt I pray for them. just sickening,” the customer said.

CINCINNATI —

One person is dead after a shooting in the parking lot of Target in Cincinnati’s Oakley neighborhood.

It happened around 12:30 p.m. at the Target on Geier Drive.

Interim Cincinnati police Chief Teresa Theetge said initial calls led them to believe it was an active shooting situation but they later confirmed it was a targeted shooting in the parking lot of the store.

“The calls came in as such a manner that led us to believe it was an active shooter situation, that was dispatched as an active shooter situation,” Theetge said. “Once we arrived on scene we determined it was not an active shooter incident.”

Theetge said the shooter shot one person, their intended target, in the parking lot of the store and fled the scene. They said the shooter is a man but they don’t know their identity at this time.

The shooting victim was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he later died. Police later identified him as Alias Phillips, 24.

Aside from Phillips, no one else was injured in the shooting.

But customers and witnesses nearby are rattled.

Customers inside the store said they heard gunshots and immediately took action.

“I got a haircut, went to Target and three minutes after I walked in I hear a dozen rapid-fire gunshots and I think most people assumed it was inside, toward the entrance so basically everyone ran back and people were trying to find places to hide or exit so I hid in jeans for like 2o, 30 minutes maybe then we got the call we were clear to walk out,” Grace Robinson said.

Two people who frequent the gym next door said this is very uncommon for this area.

“Our reaction was kind of nervous, kind of scared, we typically come here all the time like five to six times out of the week and just to see this is not normal,” one witness said.

“Always being aware of your surroundings is very important, especially as a female too, because anything like this can happen,” another witness said.

One person who was inside the store at the time shared their experience.

“I was just shopping, looking for a shirt for St. Patrick’s Day and I was just checking out and heard gunshots. You could hear seven or eight of them go off. I just grabbed my phone and wallet and ran to the back of the store and tried letting people know as I ran and just found the first exit and left.”

Another customer said she hid in the back of the store.

“I have three kids so I thought I wasn’t going to make it. I don’t know what went through my mind. I heard someone got hurt I pray for them. just sickening,” the customer said.