CINCINNATI — The community is remembering a 14-year-old boy who was shot and killed in East Price Hill last week, his family announced Saturday.
On Saturday, the family of Rakeem Blair Jr. confirmed the teen had died after he was shot Aug. 18.
According to Cincinnati police, officers and a SWAT team responded to an East Price Hill home Aug. 18 for reports of a shooting.
According to a witness, Blair was throwing rocks at a house on Warsaw Avenue when a man walked out from the house and shot the boy in the head. The witness said the man then ran away from the scene, and more people inside the house at the time ran out the back.
Cincinnati police have not released any suspect information at this time.
By Monday, a memorial for Blair was set up near the home where he was shot. Candles, flowers, pictures and more were paired with heartfelt messages painted on the sidewalk and house in honor of the teen. Messages included "long live Rakeem" and "forever 14" among others.
A Metro bus driver running her regular route was passing the scene soon after Blair was shot. The driver, Briona Akins, said she turned on her hazard lights, pulled the parking brake, secured her bus, called 911 and ran to Blair. Akins, who has received CPR training, turned him over and began chest compressions.
"I seen a commotion, some teens, some adults running and screaming," Akins said. "I seen a young boy laying in between the curb and the street. He had blood coming out of his head."
Blair's family has created a GoFundMe to pay for his funeral and burial expenses.
