Teen Charged in Vengeful Shooting: 12 Rounds Fired in Response to Domestic Abuse

Levonte Hyde, 30, of West Price Hill, was found in the 1600 block of Pasadena Avenue in College Hill at around 12:45 a.m. Thursday after being gunned down by the boy while sitting inside of his car.

Cincinnati, OH

A 15-year-old Cincinnati teen is now facing murder charges after allegedly taking matters into his own hands to end his mother's abusive relationship. According to police, the incident unfolded after the man—known as the "baby daddy"—insulted his mother with a derogatory remark and violently struck her while they were driving. In response, the teenager is accused of retrieving a firearm, firing 12 rounds, and fatally shooting the man.

Authorities identified the victim as Levonte Hyde, 30, a West Price Hill resident. Hyde was found inside his car on the 1600 block of Pasadena Avenue in College Hill at approximately 12:45 a.m. on Thursday. The Cincinnati Police Department confirmed that the fatal shooting took place while Hyde was seated in his vehicle.

Police scanner recordings, shared by Rangecast and reported by local CBS affiliate WKRC, indicate that earlier that day, Hyde was accused of attacking the teen's mother during a drive. The woman, who was present during the incident, contacted emergency services after the altercation. It has since emerged that the mother has two other children with Hyde, though he is not the biological father of the teen now charged with murder.

One officer's scanner report stated, "I have one detained. I believe she called 911... Her son is the one who shot her baby daddy. He was shot in the car."

After officers and paramedics arrived on the scene, Hyde was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The 15-year-old suspect appeared in court on Friday and has reportedly denied the murder charges.

Prosecutors contend that the attack was premeditated. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tatyana Reintjes of the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office told WLWT, "He had time to locate a firearm, access it from a safe, and then waited for the victim to arrive before firing 12 shots, ultimately leading to his death." Authorities have since requested that the case be transferred to adult court, with the next hearing scheduled for March 3.

Further court documents obtained by WXIX revealed that a warrant had been issued for Hyde on Thursday for a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. A temporary protection order had been enforced to keep him away from the teen's mother following an earlier incident. According to police, the couple was heading to a store on the 1700 block of Elmore Street in South Cumminsville when the alleged assault occurred.

An arrest affidavit detailed that during the drive, Hyde reportedly hurled a derogatory slur at the victim and then began striking her repeatedly with a closed fist. Court records also indicate that Hyde had a prior history of violence; he was charged with assault and criminal damaging in July 2017—with the teen's mother again named as the victim—and was later convicted of a lesser charge in 2018, resulting in a restraining order against him.