By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
CINCINNATI — Four-year-old Diahmonii Hope remains hospitalized and unable to move her legs after being shot twice in the back while sleeping inside her family’s South Cumminsville home, according to her mother.
Gunfire erupted near Lillie Place around 5:30 a.m. Aug. 30, sending bullets into the room where Diahmonii slept. Her mother, Don’Asia Hope, told WLWT that the child has undergone several surgeries. Doctors are assessing her spinal cord injury and whether another operation will be necessary. Her family does not yet know whether she will walk again.
Before the shooting, Diahmonii loved gymnastics, dancing, cheerleading, and swimming. Her mother described her as an energetic child who was always doing flips. Even in the hospital, the 4-year-old has maintained her playful spirit, moving through the halls in a wheelchair and visiting other children’s rooms.
The family expects Diahmonii to leave the hospital soon, but her recovery will require therapy, medical monitoring, and support. Hope, a single mother, said the family is without housing as she prepares to care for her daughter after discharge.
Hope organized a fundraising campaign seeking help with recovery and household expenses. Readers should check the official page for current totals.
No arrest had been announced as of WLWT’s Sept. 21 report. Hope said the family had received no information about a suspect or why the gunfire erupted. She is asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or knows what happened to contact Cincinnati police.
As investigators search for answers, Diahmonii’s family remains focused on her treatment and the long road ahead. The case underscores the devastating consequences gunfire can have on children—even inside the place where they should be safest.