Curtis James Boston Jr., known affectionately to his loved ones as “App,” was a family man with a smile that his mother said could light up a whole city. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 23, 1992, the 25-year-old African-American man was deeply devoted to his family, especially his mother, Marie, and his father, Curtis Sr. He was one of thirteen siblings and is remembered as a constant presence at every family gathering. Curtis loved sports, particularly football and basketball, having played for the Avondale Lions and at the Hirsch Recreation Center. He also had a creative side, enjoying making rap music in the studio. His family remembers him as a protector and their go-to person, a young man full of life and love.
The vibrant life Curtis had built was brutally extinguished in December 2017. According to prosecutors, the series of events began on December 8, when Curtis was ambushed in what was described as a deliberate and sustained attack. He had been lured to a location in Cincinnati's Camp Washington neighborhood, where he was shot at. As Curtis tried to run for his life, his attackers chased him down, struck him with a car, and pinned him against a fence. During this initial assault, dozens of shots were fired, wounding two bystanders and striking nearby homes and vehicles. Curtis was then abducted and forced into a vehicle.
The horrific ordeal ended in a rear parking lot in the 2400 block of Central Parkway. There, Curtis was shot three more times before his body was set on fire. At approximately 9:25 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2017, the Cincinnati Fire Department responded to a report of a fire in the Clifton Heights area. Upon extinguishing the blaze, they made the grim discovery of Curtis Boston Jr.'s remains, which were burned almost beyond recognition. The Cincinnati Police Department's Homicide Unit immediately began an investigation into his death.
For more than five years, Curtis’s murder remained unsolved, leaving his family with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss. The case broke open in March 2023, when investigators, using a trail of cellphone and digital records, were able to connect two men to the crime. A Hamilton County grand jury indicted William McGivens, a youth football coach, and Quincy Ray, an alleged high-ranking Chicago gang leader, on multiple charges. McGivens was arrested on March 15, 2023, while Ray was apprehended later. The charges against both men included aggravated murder, kidnapping, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence.
In August 2026, William McGivens, then 39, and Quincy Ray, 45, were convicted by a jury on all counts related to the murder of Curtis Boston. Prosecutors detailed the chilling ambush and kidnapping, presenting evidence that linked both men to the scenes of the crime. The motive was believed to be part of a targeted, possibly for-hire, plot. One report noted that Curtis had told his sister he was going to meet a man named "Will" who owed him money.
On August 27, 2026, nearly nine years after Curtis was killed, his family filled the courtroom to see his murderers sentenced. Wearing shirts and holding photos to honor his memory, they finally received a measure of justice. Both William McGivens and Quincy Ray were sentenced to serve 53 to 57 years in prison. During the emotional hearing, Curtis’s father addressed the men, saying, "I know how you love your son, the same way you love your son I love mine." A cousin also spoke, telling the court, "I want you both to know that despite everything you did you did not erase my little brother. His name will continue to be spoken with love he will continue to be remembered."
The case is now considered solved with the conviction and sentencing of both individuals responsible for the death of Curtis Boston Jr. His family continues to cherish his memory, remembering the joy and light he brought into their lives. His funeral services were held on December 20, 2017, and he was laid to rest at Vine Street Hill Cemetery in Cincinnati.
