CINCINNATI — A deadly shooting outside a fast food restaurant in Cincinnati’s Oakley neighborhood has left one man dead and prompted a homicide investigation, police confirmed Wednesday. The shooting happened Tuesday evening outside a Steak ’n Shake on Ridge Avenue, near Calvert Street.
Cincinnati police said officers were called to the area around 6:20 p.m. after reports of gunfire in the restaurant’s parking lot. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite emergency efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Wednesday morning, police identified the victim as 31-year-old Merris Kelley. Authorities have not yet released details about what led up to the shooting or how Kelley was connected to others involved. Investigators say they are still working to piece together the events that unfolded moments before shots were fired.
Police stressed that the Steak ’n Shake restaurant itself was not involved in the incident. Officers said the restaurant was closed at the time of the shooting and that the violence occurred solely in the parking lot. There is no indication that employees or customers were present when the shooting happened.
One person has been detained by police in connection with the case, though officers did not release further information about that individual Tuesday night. It is unclear whether charges have been filed, and police have not said what role the detained person may have played in the shooting.
The Cincinnati Police Department’s Homicide Unit responded to the scene and is leading the investigation. Detectives were seen collecting evidence and interviewing potential witnesses in the area. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and additional details will be released as they become available.
Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to contact Cincinnati police. As the community reacts to the deadly incident, investigators continue working to determine what led to the loss of life in what is normally a busy commercial area of Oakley.
