Cincinnati man allegedly involved in Northside shooting indicted by federal grand jury

CINCINNATI - A federal grand jury has indicted a Cincinnati man who was allegedly involved in the May 26 shooting at the Northside transit center for illegally possessing a firearm.

Yecowniyah Beal, 26, is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. He allegedly possessed a rifle.

According to police reports of the May 26 incident, Beal was present at the shootings and was seen on surveillance videos brandishing his weapon. He was one of four individuals injured.

Beal's prior criminal history includes attempted felonious assault with a weapon resulting from an incident in which Beal shot a victim in the leg outside of a nightclub and then shot into the air. He also has two other previous firearms or weapons convictions.

"We continue to track all shootings in Cincinnati and will bring federal charges against those involved whenever we can," said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. "Our determination to reduce violent crime in this city remains steadfast."

Illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie announced the charges. Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison B. Oswall from Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson's office is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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