Desire Coston was a 16-year-old student at Western Hills High School in Cincinnati who was shot on Christmas morning, December 25, 2021. Police were called about 11:15 a.m. to Gateway Plaza Apartments on West Ninth Street in the city’s West End; she was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in critical condition and died there three days later on December 28, 2021. The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office ruled her death a homicide.

In the weeks before the shooting Desire had been reported as a runaway from her foster home in Evanston; she texted her foster mother after leaving on November 27 saying she would not return and wanted to stay with an aunt, and a relative later characterized her as not missing but unwilling to remain at that foster home. Police arrested 17-year-old Rico Pryor in connection with the shooting before Desire died. He was initially charged with felonious assault, having weapons under disability, and two counts of receiving stolen property tied to two 9mm handguns found at the scene; after her death a murder charge was added. Pryor was on juvenile probation and house arrest at the time; a magistrate had approved removal of his electronic ankle monitor on December 2. His attorney said he denies the allegations.

Does anyone from Western Hills High School, Gateway Plaza, or the West End have information that could help clarify what happened that day?