|
|
By Staff Writer
A surveillance video showing dozens of gunshots and panicked crowds fleeing Lee-Harvard Plaza has intensified community demands for stronger public safety measures, proactive policing, and youth-focused violence prevention in Cleveland’s East Side.
Seven Teens Wounded Amid Reports of Drag Racing
In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 8, Cleveland police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting drag racing near Lee Road and Harvard Avenue. Before they could arrive, reports of gunfire followed. Officers found seven teenagers suffering from gunshot wounds — three 18-year-old women, two 18-year-old men, a 19-year-old woman, and a 19-year-old man.
Three victims were driven to area hospitals by private vehicle. EMS transported the other four. According to police, none sustained life-threatening injuries.
Firearms Recovered, Suspect Detained
The Shaker Heights Police Department stopped a vehicle connected to the scene and recovered three firearms. The 21-year-old driver was arrested and charged with improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle. A second car, used to transport two injured teens to the hospital, was later towed; two more firearms were recovered, bringing the total to five.
Though one suspect is in custody for a weapons offense, Cleveland police have not yet identified who discharged the weapons that night. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station and plaza businesses captured the chaos — people running for cover, cars speeding away, and what Deputy Chief Jarod Schlacht estimated to be more than 70 rounds fired.
Police emphasized that the event was not a “street takeover,” noting that emergency access routes remained clear. The incident remains under active investigation.
Community Leaders Demand Action
In the days following the shooting, local leaders have voiced concern about recurring violence at Lee-Harvard Plaza and called for stronger intervention. Cleveland City Councilman Joe Jones urged police to intervene early when large gatherings form:
“Police officers coming around on a consistent basis when they see activity start — they need to tell them to disperse.”
Neighborhood resident Evelyn Slaughter-Jackson, who has lived in the community for 16 years, said the neighborhood needs more visible policing:
“We need more cops in this area.”
Myesha Watkins, director of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, said her group is supporting one of the teenage victims. She emphasized the need for trauma-informed outreach to reduce retaliation.
“We often see victims return as suspects if they don’t receive proper care,” Watkins said.
Meanwhile, Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel urged gun owners to secure weapons safely at home, noting that his department has begun distributing free gun lock boxes in partnership with neighborhood associations.
Safety Infrastructure and Response Efforts
The Real-Time Crime Center continues to monitor camera feeds from Lee-Harvard Plaza. Mayor Justin Bibb called on residents to come forward with information:
“Our community is safer when we work together and uplift one another.”
Police are urging anyone with footage, tips, or details to call 216-621-1234 or submit an anonymous tip to Crimestoppers.
What Comes Next
- Investigators are analyzing video evidence and interviewing all seven victims.
- A total of five firearms have been recovered; ballistics tests are pending.
- A civilian safety substation at Lee-Harvard Plaza, promised in previous council discussions, remains under review
Community organizers are planning youth engagement events and have requested additional summer funding to expand violence interruption and wellness programs.
