Aunt: Girl ran behind dad 'instead of running away'

Nine-year-old Alexandrea Thompson was fatally shot Wednesday as her father struggled with a gunman who had stormed into their Mount Auburn house, her aunt told The Enquirer.

Alexandrea's father, Alex Thompson, tried to grab the gun, and several gunshots went off. He was shot in the hand, arm and abdomen, the aunt said.

Alexandrea was struck in the chest by a bullet that may have gone through her father's body, Andrea Thompson said.

"She was behind her dad. She was probably scared," Andrea Thompson said. "She ran behind him instead of running away."

Alexandrea's 15-year-old sister went to the home's third floor, where the shooting happened. She picked up Alexandrea, who Andrea Thompson said was bleeding and "breathing real hard," and cradled her.

"She took her last breath in her sister's arms," Andrea Thompson said.

Mt. Auburn school remembers 9-year-old shooting victim

The killing of the fourth-grader – described Thursday as an extremely bright leader at the charter school she attended – left her family devastated and her Burnet Avenue neighborhood shaken.

At Mount Auburn International Academy, students, faculty and staff struggled to understand how their classmate, the little girl with the big grin who gave strong hugs, will never come to school again. The school is blocks away from where the shooting happened.

Claudia Ehrle, the school's interim director, called Alexandrea a natural leader: “She led by example.”

Alexandrea, who was known as "Sissy," was the kid who immediately welcomed Ehrle when she came to the school this past November.

"You know when you start in a new place and some people just stand out? She was one of those," Ehrle said. "My lasting memory of her will be that hug and that smile. She made me feel welcome.”

The sentiments were echoed on a green poster board that her classmates, and staff, wrote to her Thursday after learning of her death.

"Rest up baby, I love you sissy.”

“You will always have a special place in my heart."

"Your new wings are magnificent.”

Ehrle said that board along with several balloons will be placed in the school's central hall near a bulletin board where Alexandrea's art is on display.

The girl's hand-drawn art shows she was into superheroes and girl power. She wanted to grow up to be a teacher, loved steak and “chilli,” cheetahs, pottery and Johnny Depp. In the middle of the board was a simple, stick-figure drawing of her family – each figure neatly labeled in case you wouldn’t know.

Grief counselors were at the school Thursday for any of its 431 students who needed to talk. It was not lost of Ehrle and other staff that the shooting might be a trigger for some children who have experienced violence in their short lives. Some students opted to leave school Thursday.

Alexandrea attended the school since the first grade. Her siblings do not go to the school.

Alexandrea was pronounced dead at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Her father was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center and was in intensive care Thursday, said his mother, Catherine Thompson.

She described her granddaughter as a “vibrant” and “very bright” girl who liked to draw and who excelled at school.

“She was a very sweet, adorable child,” Catherine Thompson said. “She was so adorable.”

Alexandrea had spent the weekend at her aunt’s house, spending time rollerskating, watching movies, going out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

“She had the time of her life,” Andrea Thompson said. “That’s the only reason I’m holding up.”

Alexandrea lived at the house in the 2200 block of Burnett Avenue with her father, his fiancee and as many as nine siblings and step-siblings, relatives told The Enquirer.

Many of the children were at the home when at least three men came to the door at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

It was unclear who answered the door, but Andrea Thompson said the men forced their way inside. Police said at least three men were seen leaving the home. Witnesses said the men were seen leaving in a white two-door car that was possibly a convertible.

Rev. Peterson Mingo and other outreach workers with the city's Office of Human Relations were at the scene of the shooting Thursday and spoke with relatives. As is common practice, they were working to identify if anyone knew who was involved in the shooting.

Neighbor Freeman McNeal watched Alexandrea grow up since the family moved in across the street from him six or seven years ago. And Thursday afternoon, while standing on his front porch, he said he was looking forward to watching her grow into a young adult.

"She was spontaneous and she was the child who always did the right thing," McNeal said. "She was full of light."

Freeman, who to many is the patriarch of the block, said Alexandrea was like part of his family.

Freeman shook his head and looked across the street as passersby continued to put candles and notes on a growing makeshift memorial on the steps of the home where she lived.

"God took a good one in her."

Community takes to the street

Less that 24 hours after Alexandrea and her father were shot, a crowd marched up the street to their home demanding residents come forward with information.

"It's time for us to take a stand and quit playing with this," said Rashid Abdullah with the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission. "I know it's hard when it's your child that's pulling the trigger, but we know you didn't raise him like that."

Community has message for those 'in the business of killing little girls'

Rev. Alvin Scales with the First Church of God in Corryville announced his church would be putting forward $2,000 toward a reward for information leading to an arrest in the slaying. Other faith leaders have joined in the effort and hope to raise at least $9,000 for the reward, $1,000 for each year of Alexandrea's life.

"To the people who took this baby's life," Peggy Harris with Who Killed Our Kids said stomping in anger. "You better turn yourself in and try to get as much mercy as you can get."