Jhonny Jesus Mercado-Perez, a 26-year-old man, was found shot in the pre-dawn hours of October 12, 2025, on the 5000 block of Hawaiian Terrace in Cincinnati’s Mt. Airy neighborhood. Officers responding around 4 a.m. discovered him with a gunshot wound; despite emergency efforts by police and Cincinnati Fire, he died at the scene. He was publicly identified the following day as the investigation shifted from a frantic response to a hunt for leads.
Detectives canvassed the complex and surrounding streets, working through a language barrier in a largely Hispanic area while witnesses began cooperating. Public records and memorial notices later confirmed his name and the quiet handling of family services as loved ones absorbed the news.
Within days, Cincinnati police obtained a murder warrant for 32-year-old Edinson Antoni Guaita Ascanio, describing him as armed and dangerous and urging the public to avoid contact and call authorities if seen. Officials emphasized that Ascanio remained at large as of the most recent updates, and no arrest had been announced.
Investigators asked anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit or submit tips through Crime Stoppers, signaling the case’s urgency and the need for community assistance to locate the suspect and reconstruct the moments leading to the shooting.
