DeWine’s violent crime reduction operations resulted in eight arrests, but didn’t stop Cincinnati shooting
Editor’s Note: Updated with a statement from Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign.
Gov. Mike DeWine’s violent crime reduction operations resulted in eight arrests in Dayton and Cincinnati, making the announcement just hours after nine people were injured in a mass shooting in Cincinnati.
The operations were part of DeWine’s Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, which unites law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels to be more effective in identifying and arresting repeat offenders responsible for the majority of violent crime in Ohio.
“The success in reducing violent crime across Ohio relies on the strength of our law enforcement partnerships,” DeWine, a Republican, said in a release. “These operations in Dayton and Cincinnati prove that when agencies at every level work toward one common goal, we can effectively remove violent offenders and illegal firearms from our streets.”
The recent news came after a Sunday morning mass shooting that took place at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Live, a city music venue, with 9 people being shot and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital, according to WLWT5. As of Tuesday, no deaths were reported.
On Monday, Cincinnati police arrested two men in connection with a mass shooting, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer. The police officers said that Franeek Cobb, 24, and Derrick Long, 29, each face at least one count of felonious assault after the shooting.
On Tuesday, the feds said they lodged federal charges of illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon against the two. If convicted, they both face up to 15 years in prison.
“Gun violence in Cincinnati must end,” U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said in a release. “Our top priority is protecting our communities and holding accountable those who threaten them. If you pull a trigger in an illegal act of violence or otherwise illegally possess a firearm or ammunition, rest assured we will do everything we can to send you to federal prison.”
DeWine’s Deputy Director of Media Relations, Dan Tierney, didn’t respond to the request for comment regarding DeWine’s violent crime prevention initiative failing to prevent the shooting.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval responded to the recent news in his statement on X, in which he called the mass shooting “senseless.”
“Thank you to the officers on site, the first responders for their immediate action, and all the hospital staff who worked to save lives this morning. This is unconscionable,” he wrote. “Our prayers are with all the victims, and Law Enforcement has our full support to deliver justice. We will continue to keep the public up to date.”
U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, also responded to the recent “horrible” news on X.
“Tina and my prayers are with the victims as they recover. We’re grateful for law enforcement and first responders’ swift action to save lives,” he wrote.
Horrible news in Cincinnati this morning.
Tina and my prayers are with the victims as they recover. We’re grateful for law enforcement and first responders’ swift action to save lives.https://t.co/poqr1OS9YZ
— Senator Jon Husted (@SenJonHusted) March 1, 2026
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Cincinnati-born Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released a statement about the mass shooting.
“Vivek’s prayers are with those injured in this senseless act of violence,” a spokesperson for Ramaswamy’s campaign told Ohio.News. “Crime is a growing concern in his hometown of Cincinnati, and this shooting underscores the need for reforms to keep violent offenders off the streets.
“Ohio families deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods,” the spokesperson added. “Vivek is the only candidate focused on backing our police, confronting crime in our cities, and securing our communities through real action. He will lead the way as our next governor.”
His opponent, Amy Acton, posted a statement on social media.
