Mother of man killed in East Price Hill says officer shooting suspect was 'karma'

COVINGTON, Ky. — The Cincinnati Police Department said one of its officers shot a man in Covington Monday morning, killing him.

Interim Police Chief Teresa Theetge said two officers were "involved in police activity" in the area of 18th and Garrard Street which resulted in one officer firing shots. Sources tell WCPO the person shot and killed is Ali Coulter, a 20-year-old wanted in connection to the murder of Christian Jones, according to court documents. Jones was found shot to death inside his vehicle in East Price Hill last week.

According to police, members of CPD's Fugitive Apprehension Squad were in Covington to speak with a suspect's family. In a statement, CPD said some of the Fugitive Apprehension Squad members were in plain clothes but all wore body cameras that were activated when the shooting happened.

CPD said Coulter ran outside with a loaded gun when officers arrived at his family member's home. Police said officers were "forced to utilize their training to stop a threat" when Coulter continued forward and ignored commands to drop his gun.

Kentucky State Police, the agency investigating the shooting, said Coulter was taken to St. Elizabeth's Hospital where he later died.

"Any time there is a loss of life, it is a traumatic and tragic situation for everyone involved," Theetge said. "Out officers thought they were going to interview the mother of a murder suspect and ultimately had to use deadly force in front of her."

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said there will be a "thorough and transparent investigation" into the shooting with the city providing updates as they are available. Pureval, Theetge and interim city manager John Curp held a press conference to discuss the shooting Tuesday morning. They released the names of the two officers involved in the shooting: Police Specialist Mark Longworth and Police officer Charles Knapp. The two have been involved in a shooting before, CPD said.

Police arrested an 18-year-old April 8 in connection to the East Price Hill murder. The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office said Youssouf Niangane and Coulter robbed and killed Jones when he gave the two a ride in what police referred to as a bootleg cab or rideshare.

Jones's mother, Dawn, said she did not recognize the two names. She said she believes they were strangers her son was driving to make some money before the technician started a new job at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. His background check, she said, cleared the day after he died.

"All I know is he didn't deserve this and I need to know why," Dawn Jones said. "So I will be at every court date that this person has."

Dawn Jones said she feels for Coulter's family, but said the shooting felt like karma.

"That's definitely karma," she said. "You can't do this sort of thing and expect good things to happen. ... I'm sorry to that boy's mother. She feels my pain now."

KSP has not released body camera footage of the incident.

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