Late Wednesday evening, just after 8 p.m., the quiet of the 2500-block of Hansford Place in the South Fairmount neighborhood was shattered when police officers with the Cincinnati Police Department responded to 911 calls reporting shots fired. Upon arrival they discovered 24-year-old Darnell Mooney suffering from gunshot wounds to his head and torso.
Mooney was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where doctors fought to save him. Tragically, early the next morning his life came to an end. The department later confirmed his death and appealed to anyone with information to step forward.
At this time, no arrests have been made and detectives are working to piece together the events leading to this awful loss. According to witnesses and police, a black sedan was seen driving away about 20 minutes before officers arrived, and an abandoned vehicle tied to Mooney was found nearby on Ash Tree Drive.
But the numbers and details only tell part of the story. Friends and family remember Darnell not as a tragic statistic, but as a warm young man—someone who had dreams, cared deeply for his loved ones, and whose smile could light up a room. Though public records are quiet on specifics of his life in the neighborhood, those who knew him say his gentle spirit left an imprint.
This loss ripples far beyond a single home or street. It’s felt in the laughter that won’t echo again, in the hugs that won’t be given, in the future that was full of promise but now gone. The community around South Fairmount is grieving, stunned by how quickly a life full of potential can be taken.
Tonight, as loved ones gather to remember Darnell, they bring more than tears — they bring memories of his warmth, his loyalty, his jokes, the small everyday kindnesses that made him beloved. They talk of sunsets he wanted to chase, of goals he had yet to reach, of a youth bright with possibility.
And while the investigation continues, so does the call for justice. If you were in the area Wednesday night, heard anything, saw that black sedan, or have any piece of information — the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit is asking you to speak up. Because in silence, the void grows. In truth, something might still shift toward healing.
Darnell Mooney was more than the victim of a senseless shooting. He was a son, a brother, a friend, a beacon. And though his light has been extinguished far too soon, it will live on in the stories shared, in the community’s memory, and in every moment he made someone else feel seen. May he rest in peace — his laughter, his spirit, his love will never be forgotten.