Nationwide — Diahmonii Hope, a 4-year-old African American girl from Cincinnati, Ohio, is still recovering in the hospital after she was shot twice in the back while sleeping inside her family’s South Cumminsville home. Nearly three weeks after the Aug. 30 shooting, she remains unable to move her legs as doctors assess the damage to her spinal cord and determine what treatment she may need next.
The shooting happened around 5:30 a.m. near Lillie Place, when gunfire sent bullets into the room where Diahmonii was sleeping. Her mother, Don’Asia Hope, said the child has undergone several surgeries since the shooting. Doctors are also considering another operation because of the spinal cord injury. At this point, the family does not know whether she will be able to walk again.
Before she was injured, Diahmonii spent much of her time doing activities she loved. She enjoyed gymnastics, dancing, cheerleading, and swimming, and her mother said she was always doing flips. Now, she uses a wheelchair while recovering in the hospital. Despite her injuries, her family says she has kept her playful personality, even rolling into other children’s rooms and “popping wheelies,” her mother told WLWT.
The family expects the child to leave the hospital soon, but her recovery will continue after discharge. She will need ongoing therapy and medical care while doctors monitor whether she regains movement in her legs. Her mother, who is raising her as a single parent, also said the family is now homeless as they prepare for Diahmonii to return home. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help with medical expenses and other costs, and it has raised more than $3,700 so far.
At the same time, investigators have yet to make an arrest in the shooting. The family is still waiting for information about who fired the shots and whether anyone was specifically targeted. Hope said she has not received information about a possible suspect since her daughter was injured. With Diahmonii still facing a difficult recovery, the family is also left without clear answers about what led to the gunfire.
Hope is asking anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or knows something about what happened to contact Cincinnati police. She said information from the community could help investigators determine how her young daughter was shot while sleeping inside her home. Until then, the family is focused on Diahmonii’s treatment and the long recovery ahead.