Two young Ethiopian women — Eden Adugna, 22, and her sister Feven Adugna, 20 — were among three people killed in Cincinnati after Samuel Ericksen, a 26-year-old white man, opened fire inside a Mount Washington apartment building before killing himself.
The Aug. 31 massacre also claimed the life of Bemnet Deresse, 27, a University of Cincinnati graduate and quality engineer. The shooting has left Cincinnati’s small Ethiopian community devastated, particularly because Eden had previously sought police help after receiving disturbing messages and a gun photo from Ericksen.
Warning Signs Ignored
Weeks before the shooting, Ericksen’s mother told Hamilton County deputies she feared her son needed psychiatric help. Deputies noted troubling behavior but said they lacked the legal authority to confiscate his Taurus TX 22 handgun.
Ohio is one of the states without a so-called “red flag” law that allows law enforcement to temporarily seize weapons from individuals showing signs of being a threat.
Eden had even contacted Cincinnati police after receiving suicidal messages from Ericksen, but without a protection order or direct threats of violence, officials said there was little they could do.
Dreams Cut Short
The Adugna sisters, who immigrated to the United States after losing their mother to violence in Ethiopia, had been working at Good Samaritan Hospital while pursuing their dream of becoming doctors. Friends described them as “bright, determined, and full of promise.”
Their aunt, who helped raise them, said losing the sisters to another act of violence felt like reliving a nightmare. “They came here for safety and opportunity. Instead, they were taken from us,” she said.
Calls for Accountability
Community leaders expressed outrage that warning signs were ignored. “Eden did everything she was supposed to do — she reached out for help — and still, she didn’t get the protection she deserved,” said Araya Amsalu, who helped organize a vigil.
Gun reform advocates argue that Ohio’s lack of red flag laws leaves families and communities vulnerable. Ericksen’s case, they say, shows how loopholes in gun laws can allow people displaying red flags to keep deadly weapons.
As mourners gathered with candles and prayers, the deaths of Eden, Feven, and Bemnet have become a rallying point for both grief and change.
