UC, Clifton community react to Halloween weekend crime reports | News

Multiple violent crimes were reported near the University of Cincinnati on Oct. 30 and 31, 2026. Shots were fired at Campus Park Cincy apartments, located at 195 E McMillian St. at 4:12 a.m. on Oct. 31, according to UC’s Daily Crime Log. Around 10:45 p.m. on Oct. 31, community members reported hearing shots fired near 255 Calhoun St.

On the same night, fights broke out at Clifton Heights Tavern. Employees of the establishment removed a man for instigating fights in the bar.

“When we got him out, he supposedly punched his girlfriend and punched my security in the face,” said Zach Holtkamp, the general manager of Clifton Heights Tavern. “Then he ended up getting arrested.”

About an hour later, a fight broke out in the 2800 block of Short Vine St., and police intervened, according to WCPO. Police deployed a taser and arrested an individual for attempting to interfere with police activity while officers broke up the fight.

“Our bar was fine, other than this one kid,” Holtkamp said, when asked whether or not there was an uptick in incidents around Clifton Heights Tavern during Halloween. “But looking around the city and especially Short Vine, that was crazy and honestly looked scary.”

Other events over the weekend raised safety concerns for community members.

Two police officers were injured while trying to break up a fight on Jefferson Avenue around 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 1. Officers also responded to a group of more than 2,000 people gathered outside the BP gas station on Jefferson Avenue, according to WCPO.

“It was very wild and there were people everywhere, like the most amount of people I’ve ever seen,” said Sophia Boone, a third-year education major, who was on Short Vine on Halloween night.

Multiple videos circulated on social media showing large crowds, music playing and individuals dancing and standing on top of BP gas pumps.

Boone said that her and a friend left the area and were walking towards campus when they allegedly heard gunshots.

“The people around us, some people kind of seemed like either they didn’t hear or they didn’t care; other people kind of started running away,” Boone said. “As soon as the shots went off, there were about eight police officers in vehicles and in motorcycles that were instantly headed towards Short Vine.”

High crime reports on Halloween weekend came after a string of shootings reported near UC early in UC’s academic semester.

“You know, being from Cincinnati, like I’ve never felt danger in my city,” Boone said. “But now definitely, it’s in my mind now, the fact that it is possible to be somewhere at the wrong time. Obviously, I was really lucky to have just walked past.”

When asked if she felt that the area around UC was dangerous, Boone explained that it’s a complicated question for students to answer.

“I think that Clifton is just kind of — It’s not the suburbs.” Boone said. “You have to expect some level of crime where there’s so many people and so many different kinds of people. I don’t think it’s unsafe, but I don’t think it’s the safest place to be.”

Reports of shootings near UC’s campus early in the semester prompted community members to create a change.org petition calling on the city of Cincinnati to increase security measures near campus. Cincinnati police responded with barricades blocking sections of Calhoun Street. These increased security measures have since been lifted.

“I think that UC has a responsibility to make parents and incoming students aware that things like this happen,” Boone said. “I don’t think that they should hide from the fact that there are shootings near campus. There are shootings where college kids go, but I think it’s the city’s job to maintain order and to protect civilians from danger.”