HAMILTON, Ohio – Police think a dispute between families may have led to the shooting of eight people – one fatally - in a crowded Hamilton bar over the weekend.
One man was charged with murder in the death of his older brother at Doubles bar, but police couldn't say he pulled the trigger or even how many shooters were involved. Three members of another family were also shot.
"We're looking into the possibility that there was potentially some feud or some difference between those groups," said Hamilton police Chief Craig Bucheit.
Kalif Goens, 22, was shot to death and Mondale Goens, 21, was arraigned in the killing. Bucheit said Mondale Goens, as the “proximate result of his actions, caused his brother’s death.”
Goens is also charged with two counts of felonious assault in the shooting of two others. He is being held on $2 million bond.
Investigators found a handgun in the bushes outside Monday and hope it can shed some light on the chaos that took place inside.
More than 200 people were at the bar when the shooting started, according to police, prompting several frantic 911 calls.
"I'm under the table," said one caller. "I'm not getting up. There's been like 20 gunshots."
The lack of cooperation from witnesses has been "shameful," Bucheit said, and he hoped more people will come forward.
"We have received cooperation, but considering the number of people who were present, the number of witnesses who were there, the cooperation frankly is shameful," the chief said.
Doubles has been a "problem establishment," Bucheit said, and he intends to do something about it.
"I met with the management team yesterday and discussed those issues with them personally and we're going to follow up with them," he said. "This type of incident is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
If you have any information that can help police, call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
