Police said a 19-year-old suspect was arrested and held on a $1 million bond.
COVINGTON, Ky. — A 12-year-old boy remained in critical condition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital after being shot multiple times in a Covington neighborhood, police said, as the child’s mother described a yearslong struggle to regain custody and keep him away from guns and street fights.
Covington police said they arrested a 19-year-old suspect, Jayden Marsh, early Monday and charged him with attempted murder. Investigators have not released a motive, and they have not said whether the shooting is tied to any earlier violence. The case has drawn attention in the Latonia area, where neighbors said daylight gunfire on a residential block left families frightened and demanding answers.
Police said officers were called about 4:49 p.m. Sunday to the 4300 block of McKee Street in the Latonia neighborhood. Capt. Justin Bradbury said officers found the child with multiple gunshot wounds. The boy was transported by emergency crews to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police later said the victim was in critical condition. During the first public updates Sunday night, police said no one was in custody and asked residents to check doorbell and home security video for any images of vehicles or people near McKee Street around the time of the shooting.
By early Monday, police said Marsh had been arrested after an overnight investigation and was booked into the Kenton County Detention Center. He was being held on a $1 million bond, police said. Bradbury said the attempted murder charge can carry up to 20 years in prison. Investigators have not described the evidence that led to the arrest, and they have not said whether anyone else is being sought. Police have not said whether a gun was recovered. They also have not announced whether Marsh has legal representation who could respond to the allegations. Detectives continued to ask for tips and video that could confirm the timeline and identify anyone who may have witnessed the shooting.
The boy’s mother, Andrea Hall, identified him as Noah and said she has lived with fear for years that he would be caught in violence. Hall said she lost custody of Noah in 2019 while she struggled with addiction. She said she has been sober for about eight years and has been working to regain custody. Hall said she believes Noah has been running the streets and has had access to guns, and she described him as not being in school and lacking guidance. “I don’t know what to do,” Hall said. “I’m hurt. I’m so hurt.” Hall said she has begged family members and others to take stronger control of Noah’s day-to-day life, and she said she worries that arguments between young people can quickly turn into shootings.
Hall said she believes the attack was retaliation connected to a December 2025 police complaint involving another shooting. She said that complaint accused 19-year-old Geomontray Drake of firing into a home on Decoursey Avenue and stated Marsh was the victim in that earlier case. Hall said the complaint also referenced a juvenile witness, and she said that witness was Noah. Police have not confirmed any link between the McKee Street shooting and the December complaint, and investigators have not publicly said Noah was a witness in any prior case. Hall said she understands anger when someone is hurt, but she said a child should never be a target. “I would be furious, I’d be angry, but I would not shoot a 12-year-old,” she said.
Neighbors said police cars filled the area Sunday evening as officers taped off parts of the street and interviewed residents. Some people said they heard several shots and then saw people running, while others said they did not realize what happened until sirens arrived and officers began knocking on doors. A few residents said they handed over video from doorbell cameras after officers asked them to check their systems. Others said they avoided the street and kept children inside as the investigation unfolded. In interviews, Hall said she feels pulled between relief that a suspect was arrested and terror over whether Noah will survive. She said she wants her son to have a chance to grow up and that she believes the right support could still change his life.
Police said they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public, but they said the investigation remains active as detectives work to determine what led up to the shooting and who was present. Marsh remained in custody on a $1 million bond, and police said Noah remained in critical condition as the case heads toward its next court steps.
Author note: Last updated Feb. 24, 2026.