In Loving Memory of Dontonyio Spruill Age 37 • Cincinnati, Ohio
With heavy hearts and profound sorrow, we gather our words to honor the memory of Dontonyio Spruill, whose life was tragically cut short on the afternoon of November 7 in Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood. His passing is not just another news headline—it is a devastating and deeply personal loss felt by family, friends, neighbors, and all who knew the warmth of his presence.
Dontonyio was a son, a friend, a relative, and a member of a community that now mourns a life taken far too soon. He carried within him the complexity of lived life—the hopes, the struggles, the laughter, the dreams. Those who loved him remember him not for the tragedy of his final moment, but for the way he made people feel while he was here. Whether through his humor, his loyalty, his conversations, or his steady presence, he touched lives in ways that will not be forgotten.
On that day, police responded to a ShotSpotter alert near Poplar Street and Central Avenue. By the time first responders arrived, Dontonyio had suffered a gunshot wound. Cincinnati fire personnel fought to save him, but despite their efforts, he passed away at the scene. He was only 37 years old. A life full of potential. A life that mattered.
His death leaves behind a space that can never be filled in the hearts of those who loved him—family members who will forever feel the silence where his voice once was, friends who will miss his laugh, and a community struggling to understand how this could happen. Violence does not just take lives—it leaves aches, questions, and futures forever changed.
Yet even in grief, there remains memory, and memory is where love lives on.
We remember Dontonyio for who he was before the world learned his name through tragedy.
We honor the moments of joy, the connections made, the love he gave, and the life that was his.
May his family and friends find strength in one another, comfort in shared stories, and healing in time.
May the community come together—not only to mourn his loss, but to support one another and seek peace in the wake of hurt.
And may justice be pursued so that those responsible for this pain are held accountable.
If you have information regarding this heartbreaking incident, you are urged to contact the Cincinnati Police Department Homicide Unit at 513-352-3542. Even the smallest detail may help
