Nationwide — Rakeem Blair Jr., a 14-year-old African American boy from Cincinnati, Ohio, died several days after someone shot him in the head during a confrontation in East Price Hill. His family confirmed his death over the weekend after doctors determined he was brain dead. The shooting happened Tuesday evening, Aug. 18, on the 3700 block of Warsaw Avenue. Family members said Blair and several other juveniles had been throwing rocks at a vacant building when a confrontation reportedly broke out with another person. The situation escalated, and someone shot Blair before fleeing the area.
A Metro bus driver who was traveling along Warsaw Avenue at the time found him lying on the ground and stopped to help. Briona Akins performed first aid until emergency responders reached the scene.”He was still taking breaths,” Akins recalled. “He was still trying to keep his eyes open. So I was just hoping that what I did would help in any way possible. So yeah, like I said, it was pretty heavy.”
According to WLWT, first responders soon took Blair to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where doctors treated him in critical condition for several days. His condition later worsened, and doctors determined he was brain dead before his death. Police have not identified a suspect or released information about an arrest. Investigators said the person believed to be responsible had already left the scene when officers arrived. The Cincinnati Police Department continues to investigate the shooting and has not disclosed what led to the confrontation.
His family remembered him as a loving and energetic teenager who cared deeply about his mother. His aunt, Khalilah Starks, said he was the youngest of his mother’s children but often acted older because of how much he looked after her. Blair had also recently attended his second boxing practice at Lord’s Gym in East Price Hill. Fellow young boxers said they were shocked to learn that he had been shot and later died. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family with funeral and burial expenses. It has so far raised over $7,000.