Jayshawn Cornelius, 17, a Black male, was killed just after 1:30 a.m. on June 3, 2025, in Cincinnati’s Westwood neighborhood. Police responded to a ShotSpotter alert on Percy Avenue and found the Hughes STEM High School student mortally wounded at his family’s home. Early reports described a burst of gunfire—around 14 shots—fired toward the residence; he was struck multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. An obituary later confirmed his age and date of death.
In the days that followed, detectives developed a lead that culminated in an indictment. Prosecutors say 24-year-old Malik Blanchard, already jailed in connection with a separate June 9 homicide, was responsible for Jayshawn’s killing six days earlier. According to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, a woman approached a 12-year-old outside the Percy Avenue home and said she wanted to fight the child’s relatives; Blanchard was with her, drew a gun, and fired as the boys ran toward the house. The 12-year-old made it inside; Jayshawn was hit as he tried to get through the door. Blanchard was indicted on two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and improper discharge into a habitation in Jayshawn’s case, and he remained in the Hamilton County Justice Center on a seven-figure bond while facing the possibility of a life sentence. Officials said the June 3 shooting was not connected to the June 9 case.
Grief poured out across Westwood in the immediate aftermath. Family and friends gathered for a balloon release near the home, speaking through tears about a respectful teen who wanted to become a mechanic and who helped keep younger kids off the streets. A school statement mourned his loss, and his father launched a fundraiser to help with funeral costs as loved ones demanded justice.
