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Cincinnati police identified Cortez Bailey, 33, as the man killed during an officer-involved shooting at Talbert House on Central Parkway. Police said Bailey fired multiple shots inside the facility before confronting officers and being fatally shot. No other people were shot, although some residents were treated for minor injuries. Investigators have not yet determined what prompted the shooting.
Cincinnati police identified the man killed during an officer-involved shooting at Talbert House in the University Heights neighborhood.
Cortez Bailey, 33, died after police said he fired multiple shots inside the facility on Central Parkway Friday night.
Police said Bailey was a resident at the Talbert House Parkway Center, where he had lived since May.
Police receive multiple calls about gunfire
Cincinnati police received seven 911 calls reporting an active shooter at the Talbert House around 7:40 p.m. Friday, Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie said during a Saturday news conference.
Officers and other first responders arrived at the facility in less than three minutes.
Police said they found multiple shell casings inside the four-story building and determined that Bailey had been firing a weapon.
Security footage later showed Bailey in a second-floor hallway with a firearm, according to police. Investigators recovered a Taurus 9 mm pistol and an extended magazine after the shooting.
Armed man confronted inside the building
SWAT officers entered the building and encountered Bailey near the lobby, police said.
Officers repeatedly ordered him to drop his weapon. According to Hennie, Bailey instead fired toward officers through doors separating them.
The doors were made of bullet-resistant glass, and police said the gunfire did not penetrate the glass. One officer sustained a minor injury from shrapnel, according to police.
Officers then entered the building and encountered Bailey again in a cafeteria. Police said Bailey pointed the firearm toward officers, prompting two officers to fire their weapons.
Bailey was struck and officers immediately began providing first aid. Cincinnati firefighters and medics continued treating him before he was taken for medical care, but he died from his injuries, multiple local outlets reported.
No other people were shot
Police said no other civilians or officers were shot during the incident.
Several residents were treated for minor injuries related to the initial panic and evacuation, according to reports.
The Cincinnati Fire Department sent about 50 personnel to the scene and helped evacuate residents from the building, city officials said.
The two officers who fired their weapons, along with other officers who witnessed the incident, were placed on administrative leave, which police said is standard procedure following an officer-involved shooting.
Police still investigating the motive
Police have not determined why Bailey was firing the weapon inside Talbert House or whether he was targeting a specific person.
Hennie said investigators were still working to establish what led to the shooting. Police also met with Bailey’s family following the incident.
The officer-involved shooting is being investigated by Cincinnati police and the city’s Citizen Complaint Authority.
Talbert House provides behavioral health, substance-use and housing services in the Cincinnati area. The Parkway Center provides transitional housing for residents working toward greater independence.
What is Talbert House?
Talbert House is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit organization that provides behavioral health, substance-use treatment, housing and other support services.
The organization operates several facilities across Greater Cincinnati that serve people dealing with substance-use disorders, mental health needs, housing instability and other challenges.
The shooting happened at the Talbert House Parkway Center on Central Parkway. Bailey had been living at the facility since May, according to Cincinnati police.
Because the building provides residential services, other residents and staff were inside when police responded to reports of gunfire Friday night. Emergency crews evacuated residents while officers worked to secure the building.
Bullet-resistant glass was part of the initial confrontation
Police said officers initially confronted Bailey from behind bullet-resistant glass inside the building.
According to police, officers repeatedly ordered Bailey to drop his firearm during the confrontation. Bailey instead fired at least one shot toward officers, police said.
The gunfire did not penetrate the bullet-resistant glass, according to investigators.
Officers eventually moved beyond the secured area and confronted Bailey farther inside the building. Police said the second confrontation occurred in the cafeteria, where Bailey pointed the firearm toward officers before two officers fired their weapons.
The bullet-resistant glass was one of several security features that became relevant during the police response. Investigators are continuing to examine the sequence of events, including body-camera and surveillance footage, as part of the officer-involved shooting investigation.
FAQs
Was anyone else inside Talbert House?
Yes. Talbert House residents and staff were inside the facility when the shooting occurred. Emergency responders evacuated people from the building while police secured the scene.
Was the suspect a Talbert House resident?
Yes. Police said Bailey had been living at the Talbert House Parkway Center since May.
Was the shooting related to Talbert House services?
Police have not publicly established a motive or explained what prompted the shooting. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
