Jamar Hayes

Jamar Hayes was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 29, 1982. Remembered in the hearts of his loved ones, the 34-year-old Black man’s life was honored at a funeral service a week after his sudden and violent death. His passing left a void in his family and community, who gathered to share memories and say their final goodbyes at the House of Hope church on Elm Street.

The night of Monday, April 17, 2017, was the last of Jamar’s life. At around 10:45 p.m. in Cincinnati’s historic West End neighborhood, a passerby made a devastating discovery in the 500 block of Wade Street, near the intersection with Linn Street. Jamar was found on the ground next to a car, having sustained a single, fatal gunshot wound to the head. One police account suggested he had been either entering or exiting the vehicle at the moment he was attacked. When officers from Cincinnati's District 1 arrived at the scene, it was too late to help him; Jamar Hayes was pronounced dead where he lay.

The Cincinnati Police Department’s Homicide Unit immediately launched an investigation. Detectives worked through the night, processing the scene for evidence before it was cleared in the early morning hours of Tuesday. In the initial aftermath, authorities reported that there were no known witnesses to the shooting and they had no information about a potential suspect to release to the public. The circumstances that led to the shooting remained unclear, leaving a painful silence where answers should have been.

Jamar’s murder was a stark reminder of a surge in violence the city was experiencing. He was recorded as Cincinnati's 19th homicide victim of 2017, a year in which violent crime had reportedly risen seven percent over the previous year. His death was followed by two more unrelated homicides in the city just one night later. In a statement addressing the string of killings, police leadership expressed their commitment to using every available resource to combat the violence, while acknowledging that such tragic events could escalate quickly anywhere.

In the years since Jamar Hayes was killed, his case has grown cold. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The investigation remains open but inactive, waiting for a new lead that could bring a measure of justice to his family. His name was later included in a list of the city's homicide victims read aloud by a police union official in a public statement about the city's violence, a testament to a life cut short.

The community mourned Jamar with a visitation and funeral service held on Monday, April 24, 2017. As of the latest reports, his killer remains at large. The Cincinnati Police Department continues to ask for the public’s help in solving this crime. A reward may be available for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with details about the homicide of Jamar Hayes is urged to call the Criminal Investigation Section at 513-352-3542 or to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.