Luis Felipe Calderón, a 48-year-old man of Colombian ethnicity, was tragically shot and killed on September 6, 2018, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was one of three victims killed in a shooting at the Fifth Third Center in downtown Cincinnati. The other victims were 64-year-old Richard Newcomer and 25-year-old Prudhvi Raj Kandepi. The suspect, 29-year-old Omar Santa Perez, was also killed by gunfire during the incident.
Calderón had moved to Cincinnati from Miami a year prior to the shooting
to take a better job opportunity at Fifth Third Bank, hoping to provide a better life for his wife and two children. His wife, Ana Maria Calderón, described him as a loving father and husband who had made significant sacrifices for his family. The family was left devastated by the sudden loss, and a GoFundMe page was set up to support them during this difficult time.
The shooting occurred in the lobby of the Fifth Third Center, causing chaos and panic among those present. Detectives at the scene discovered that Calderón had called his brother just before the shooting, and his phone was later used to contact his family. The incident prompted a vigil on Fountain Square, where Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley expressed his condolences and emphasized the strength of the community in the face of such senseless violence.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Hamilton County Coroner's Office confirmed the identities of the victims and the circumstances of their deaths. The investigation revealed that Santa Perez had opened fire in the bank lobby, leading to the tragic deaths of Calderón, Newcomer, and Kandepi. The incident also left two other individuals injured, who were hospitalized for their injuries.
The shooting had a profound impact on the community, with many expressing their grief and solidarity with the victims' families. The families of the victims, including Calderón's, were left to navigate the emotional and logistical challenges of coping with such a sudden and tragic loss. The incident highlighted the need for increased security measures and mental health support in public spaces to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In conclusion, the death of Luis Felipe Calderón was a tragic event that shook the Cincinnati community and left his family and friends in mourning. The investigation into the shooting revealed the details of the incident and the suspect's actions, but it could not bring back the lives lost or ease the pain of those left behind.
