CINCINNATI — In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, a life was cut short in Mt. Airy when officers responding to reports of gunfire discovered Jhonny Jesus Mercado-Perez, 26, with a fatal gunshot wound. Despite immediate medical attempts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind unanswered questions and a community in shock.
It was about 4 a.m. when Cincinnati police were called to the 5000 block of Hawaiian Terrace following multiple reports of shots fired. When they arrived, officers found Mercado-Perez lying on site. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain murky: no suspects have been detained, no motive has been confirmed, and investigators are keeping tight-lipped as they piece together the evidence.
Detectives from the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit moved in quickly, gathering forensic material, questioning residents, canvassing nearby homes, and scouring surveillance footage. Their efforts are ongoing, and authorities say they are leaving no stone unturned in trying to reconstruct what happened that early Sunday morning.
Local residents say they heard a rapid sequence of gunshots in the stillness before dawn—some report as many as six to eight shots—then sounded an urgent 911 call. Within minutes, police swarmed the area, but by the time help arrived, it was too late for Mercado-Perez.
Police are urging anyone who might have seen or heard anything unusual—vehicles loitering, people acting erratically, or any movement near Hawaiian Terrace around that time—to come forward. Officials stress that even what seems like minor detail might prove critical. Tips can go directly to the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit at 513-352-3542, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
Friends and neighbors describe Mercado-Perez as someone trying to make his way, someone with hopes and what could’ve been more life ahead. In death, those close to him are left grappling with grief—and the longing for justice. The loss is felt deeply across the block and beyond.
As the investigation presses on, the community watches and waits—hoping for answers, for accountability, for closure. If you know something, say something.