On June 28, 2016, James Tamplin, a 27-year-old worker at St. Bernard Soap Factory in Cincinnati, Ohio, was shot and killed while walking to work in the early hours of the morning. The incident occurred around 3:50 a.m. on Winneste Avenue in the Winton Hills neighborhood. According to the Cincinnati Police Department, James was shot multiple times during a robbery attempt and tried to run away from his attackers but ultimately succumbed to his injuries at the University of Cincinnati Medical
Center later that morning.
The investigation revealed that James Tamplin was targeted while he was making his way to his 4 a.m. shift. Investigators recovered cartridge cases at the scene, which were analyzed through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) system. Shortly after the incident, police detained two suspects, Coron Smith and Devarieh Riggins, who were in possession of firearms. The guns recovered were matched to the cartridge cases found at the scene of James Tamplin’s murder. Both men were subsequently charged with the homicide.
The judicial outcome for this case was severe, with Smith being sentenced to 18 years and Riggins receiving a 50-year to life sentence for their roles in the crime. This incident highlights the tragic impact of violence on individuals simply attempting to go about their daily lives, as James Tamplin was described as a "truly innocent victim" who was simply walking to work when he was fatally attacked. The sentencing brought some level of justice to his family and community, though the loss remains deeply felt.
