‘A horrific situation: 4 dead in Cincinnati bank shooting

“A very horrific situation,” Isaac said at the scene.

The building is home to Fifth Third Bancorp’s headquarters along with a number of other businesses, including ice cream, pastry and sandwich shops.

Police said the gunman, a Cincinnati-area resident since 2015, wasn’t a current or past Fifth Third employee. They said he went into a sandwich shop and possibly other businesses before entering the lobby and opening fire around 9:10 a.m.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said the rapid police response probably prevented many more casualties. He said one investigator warned it could have been “a bloodbath beyond imagination.”

Afterward, police swarmed the gunman’s apartment in North Bend, Ohio, about 15 miles west of Cincinnati.

Michael Richardson, who works in the bank building, told The Cincinnati Enquirer that he was standing outside the entrance when he heard gunshots in the lobby.

“I looked behind me and saw the guy — he shot and then he shot again. After that, I started running,” Richardson said.

Leonard Cain told The Enquirer he was going into the bank when someone alerted him about the shooting. He said a woman wearing headphones didn’t hear the warnings and walked into the bank and got shot.

Jessica Hanson, who works on one of the lower floors, said a co-worker had taken the elevator down to get a drink, and when the doors opened, she nearly stepped on a man’s body. The woman got back in the elevator and rode up to her floor, where Hanson said she was in shock and unable to form complete sentences.

“Then we knew what was going on,” Hanson said.

Jaenetta Cook, who manages a bakery on the first floor, said she hurried to lock the door after the first two shots. Then, it “sounded as if they were getting closer and closer.” Cook said she and two other employees hid in the bathroom.

“I made it out to see my kids, to see another day,” she said with relief.

The Hamilton County Coroner’s office identified the victims as Pruthvi Kandepi, 25; Luis Calderon, 48; and Richard Newcomer, 64.

One died at the scene. Two more died at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The wounded were listed there in critical condition and fair condition.

Fountain Square is often the site of concerts, dancing, food trucks and other events around lunchtime or in the evenings.

“It could have been any one of us,” Mayor John Cranley said. He praised police and other emergency personnel, saying, “It could have been much, much worse.”

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Associated Press writers John Seewer in Toledo, Alexandra Villarreal in New York and AP Photographer John Minchillo in Cincinnati contributed to this story.

Follow Dan Sewell at http://www.twitter.com/dansewell

Angie Wang And Dan Sewell, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

‘A horrific situation: 4 dead in Cincinnati bank shooting

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