Larry Leach

A man is shot during a robbery
Larry “Joe” Leach was a beloved fixture in his North College Hill community in Cincinnati, Ohio. Known to many as "Papa Joe," the 64-year-old, white male was the heart of a large, close-knit family and a cornerstone of the local drag racing scene. For over 30 years, he owned and operated Leach Brothers Automotive on West Galbraith Road, a place where his generosity was as well-known as his mechanical skill. Friends and family remembered him as a man who would do anything for anybody, a "redheaded Santa" who would help customers down on their luck, even if it meant doing repairs on an IOU. His greatest joy was his family and watching them race the cars he and his brothers owned and worked on.

The afternoon of Tuesday, January 5, 2016, shattered that peace. At approximately 1:50 p.m., a man entered Leach Brothers Automotive in what police believe was a robbery attempt. The assailant, armed with a gun, demanded money. Joe, who was in the front of the shop, turned to get away, heading toward the garage bay. As his back was turned, the gunman fired a single shot, striking him in the back. An employee who was working under the hood of a truck in the garage heard Joe yell, "Help me!" followed by the sound of the gunshot. He found Joe lying on the floor, bleeding but still conscious.

First responders arrived at the shop at the corner of Simpson and Galbraith Avenues to find Joe wounded. Before being rushed to University Hospital, he was able to give police a brief description of his attacker: a male wearing a red hoodie. Surveillance video from a neighboring business captured a shadowy figure crossing the street, entering the auto shop, and then fleeing moments later, running across Simpson Street toward an apartment complex before disappearing. For three days, Joe fought for his life while his family maintained a constant vigil, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Friday, January 8, 2016.

The North College Hill Police Department launched an immediate and intensive investigation. Police K-9 units were brought to the scene, but they lost the suspect's trail in an alley behind the business. Detectives believed the attacker was likely local and may have been to the shop before. It was common knowledge that Joe often carried cash, yet the money was reportedly not taken, leaving his family and investigators to question the senselessness of the shooting. The community grieved the loss of a man described as a husband, father, grandfather to eight, and the best friend anyone could have.

In January 2018, on the two-year anniversary of the shooting, the North College Hill police chief announced a major breakthrough in the case: investigators had recovered the murder weapon. He also stated that they had identified suspects but needed more information to definitively place the gun in the shooter's hand at the time of the crime. Joe’s son, Randy Leach, who took over the family business, expressed renewed hope that this development would finally lead to justice for his father. "It is huge," Randy told reporters, "and it just goes to show that what we've been hoping for, that they are getting leads and it is leading to information."

Despite this significant advance, the case has since grown cold. As of early 2024, no arrests have been made in the murder of Joe Leach. His family continues to live with the daily pain of his absence and the unanswered questions surrounding his death. His son described the feeling as a "gut punch every morning." The case remains an open and active investigation with the North College Hill Police Department. A $5,000 reward has been offered by the family for information that leads to the identification of the shooter, in addition to any reward offered by Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers. Anyone with information is urged to call the North College Hill Police at 513-521-7171 or Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.