Witnesses reported hearing between three and five gunshots. The investigation has shown a single bullet entered the rear glass sliding door of a home on Stone Ridge Lane, before becoming lodged into the kitchen wall, police said. No other bullet holes were found, nor in any of the surrounding homes.
Earlier this week, representatives from the Cincinnati chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said they wanted Monroe police to investigate the shooting as a hate crime.
Sana Hassan, CAIR-Cincinnati staff attorney and spokesperson for the family, said the family believes they may have been targeted because they displayed lights outside the house marking the month-long fast of Ramadan that began Monday.
Three family members also wear Islamic head scarves, or hijab, Hassan said.
In early April, police said multiple shots were fired on two occasions into a home in the 400 block of Brandon Drive, less than two miles from the most recent incident. No one was injured in either incident. Police have said the drive-by shootings were targeting a specific person who lived in that house.
On Wednesday, Monroe police officer Joshua King said the department is continuing to investigate the shooting, though he declined to classify it as a hate crime. Hassan said she was “very disappointed” when she read King’s comments.
“A clear message was sent here,” Hassan said.
The Monroe Police Department has been in contact with Federal Authorities to make them aware of this incident.
Anyone with information can contact the Monroe Police Department Crime Tip Line at (513) 360-2211.
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