CINCINNATI — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is offering a reward for information regarding an 11-year-old girl who was shot and killed at a playground in the West End Thursday evening.
Cincinnati police said officers responded to reports of a person shot at Laurel Playground at West Liberty Street and John Street around 6 p.m. When officers arrived, they found an 11-year-old girl with a gunshot wound, according to police.
The girl, later identified as QueenEr'Re Reed, was taken to Cincinnati Children's, where she later died.
On Saturday, ATF said they're offering $5,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for Reed's death. ATF said it is assisting Cincinnati police with the investigation. ATF also also this serves as a reminder that they still have an active reward for info regarding the shooting death of Domonic Davis, who was killed at Laurel Playground in 2023.
While officials haven't released many details regarding Reed's death, her family said she was playing with her cousins at the time of the shooting. Her mother, Chere Williams, said they do not live in Cincinnati.
"We don't even live here," Williams said. "I hate this city. There's nothing but cruel people here."
WATCH: Community members, loved ones gather for vigil for Reed at Laurel Playground
Williams said her daughter was always dancing, making TikToks and having fun in front of cameras.
"She's gonna forever pull that camera out," Williams said. "Y'all are gonna be in the back of the shot like, 'What in the world?' She's just dancing away."
Williams said the 11-year-old loved acting like the mom of the house.
"It's my only daughter," Williams said. "What are my boys gonna do without her?"
West End Community Council member Noah O'Brien said he wants the city to look for more solutions to violence in the neighborhood.
"It's day one of 2026 and we're already dealing with this," said O'Brien. "This is every single day, every single week. We have every year, between 30 and 40 people shot in this one neighborhood that has 6,800 residents. That's a lot of people ... This all needs to be on the table: increasing rewards; increasing cameras; increasing plain clothes officers, undercover; walking some of these very high crime areas; and then we need to deconcentrate poverty."
In a statement, interim Chief Adam Hennie called the shooting a "heartbreaking and senseless act of violence."
"No child should ever lose their life to gun violence," Hennie said. "This incident is devastating, and our thoughts are with everyone who is grieving during this incredibly difficult time."
Anyone with information connected to the shooting is asked to contact police at 513-352-3040. You can also contact ATF at 1-888-283-8477 or email ATFTips@atf.gov.
