Prosecutor’s office: Six men indicted in shooting that injured 4-year-old were seeking retaliation

CINCINNATI - The six men indicted Thursday for their role in a shooting that injured a 4-year-old boy almost a year ago in Avondale were seeking retaliation against a local group at the time of the gunfire, said a representative from the Hamilton County Prosecuting Office.

Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney's spokesperson Julie Wilson said 25-year-old Rasheid Lattimore, 20-year-old Shaquille Smith, 26-year-old Masai Williams, 26-year-old David Alexander, 43-year-old Masai Torbert and 44-year-old Antonio Huff, were part of two groups who were seeking retaliation against another group during a drive-by shooting on March 20, 2012. The crossfire struck and injured 4-year-old Khyren Landrum, who was shot in the buttocks by a single bullet as he walked home from the park with his sisters near the 800 block of Blair Avenue.

Wilson did not say who the groups were attempting to shoot during the drive-by.

Lattimore, Smith, Williams, Alexander, Torbert and Huff were indicted Thursday afternoon in connection with the shooting. All six were charged with two counts of felonious assault with gun specifications. Five of the six are currently in custody on other charges. Police say Huff remains at large, but a task force is actively searching for him at this time. Anyone with information on Huff's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040.

Police say Masai Torbet and Masai Williams are father and son, respectively. The relation of the other four indicted is not known, but police say all six are allegedly involved in gang-related activity.

Khyren spent one month in a wheelchair and two months in a walker during his recovery. Landrum's legs still give out sometimes, especially when it's cold or wet outside, said Khyren’s mother, Aiesha Landrum.

Wilson said she has spoken with the family and they are doing OK following the incident.

"We take all cases like this very seriously. Certainly when there is an innocent child who is not an intended victim playing in a park just minding his own business, the police and our office really takes that to heart,” Wilson said. “The police and our prosecutors worked really, really hard and put in a lot of extra hours, time and energy."

Although it almost took a year to indict the suspects, Wilson said it was a strenuous process that took time and investigation efforts from local law enforcement.

"Some cases we get information more quickly and in other cases it takes a while to develop more information. It just took a lot of leg work getting out there and talking to people trying to get witnesses to come forward and to finally be able to put the case together," Wilson said.

Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig said the U.S. Attorney for Southwest Ohio, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office all worked together to solve the case.

“Those who commit violent acts in our community should take note: All levels of law enforcement are working together to focus enforcement efforts on violent offenders," Craig said in a press release.

9 On Your Side Reporter, Mario Ramirez contributed to this report, you can reach him at Mario.Ramirez@wcpo.com