Amarion Markel Waver was a charming and athletic 19-year-old male who was deeply loved by his family and friends. Born on July 16, 2007, to Ashley Waver and Jashawn Clark, he shared a special bond with his twin brother, Ashton. Amarion was known as a "fashion guru" who also enjoyed rapping and cutting hair. A 2025 graduate of Winton Woods High School, he had plans to attend barber school in 2026.
His family, which included his mother, twin, and siblings Danyah, Ava'Larae, Ayden, and Autumn Symone, remembered him as a great son, brother, friend, and protector to whom love and loyalty meant everything.
The night of Saturday, October 10, 2026, ended in tragedy on a Cincinnati highway. Around 11 p.m., as the city's BLINK festival was winding down, police began receiving reports of a "drive-by shooting" on northbound Interstate 71. Dispatch audio captured reports of two vehicles chasing each other while occupants exchanged gunfire. Near the Norwood Lateral at mile marker 8.0, a Nissan Altima carrying Amarion and two friends crashed, flipping over a guardrail. One 911 caller pleaded, “I just need to get this man some help or woman, whoever it is, some help; they’re upside down. Their vehicle is upside down on the wall.”
Two men driving home from BLINK, Aaron Campero and Michael Unthank, witnessed the car flipping. They immediately called 911 and rushed to help, pulling one of the conscious passengers away from the wreck to safety. They later told reporters they hadn't heard any gunshots and were shocked to learn the crash was the result of a shooting. "We’re just praying for the families," Unthank said. When first responders arrived, they found Amarion Waver had been shot; he was pronounced dead at the scene. An 18-year-old male passenger was found with a gunshot wound and life-threatening injuries, while another 19-year-old male passenger had non-life-threatening injuries. Both were transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
The Cincinnati Police Department Homicide Unit launched an extensive investigation. The northbound lanes of I-71 were shut down for nearly six hours between the Dana Avenue and Kennedy Avenue exits, stranding hundreds of drivers for hours. Investigators scoured the highway, finding shell casings spread out for miles. At the crash site, police recovered at least two firearms from the overturned Nissan. The incident was unsettling for residents living near the highway. "It’s really scary,” said Rhonda Dossenbach, who lived alongside the interstate. “It's so sad. It seems like there’s got to be a way to reduce this.”
In the days following the shooting, no arrests were announced, and police did not release information about potential suspects or the other vehicle involved in the chase. The investigation was described as ongoing. Family and friends gathered to mourn the young man whose life was cut short. A visitation and funeral service for Amarion were held on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church, followed by his interment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
As of October 2026, Amarion Waver's murder remains unsolved. The Cincinnati Police Department Homicide Unit continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the shootout and crash on I-71. Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to contact the Homicide Unit at (513) 352-3542. Anonymous tips can also be provided to Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040, and callers may be eligible for a cash reward.
