BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Seven fires were started early Sunday in the same Northside neighborhood where a street brawl broke out last week in which a man was stabbed to death.
The fires, which were started in trash containers, trash cans, a car and a banquet hall between 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., are being investigated by both fire and police officers.
A connection between the fires, which injured no one but caused a total of about $30,000 in damage, and Thursday's stabbing "has not been ruled out," said Cincinnati District Fire Chief Steve Kluesener.
"But it's still very early in the investigation," he cautioned. He said the fires appear to have been set on streets intersecting Hamilton Avenue between the 4200 and 4600 blocks.
The street fight, which drew a crowd of as many as 35 people to the 4100 block of Witler Street, left 20-year-old Antonio Shafer dead from stab wounds. Police have arrested and charged a 14-year-old boy.
Fire did the most damage to Boswell Banquet and Catering at 4647 Hamilton Ave. The catering service and banquet hall is connected to a house with occupied apartments.
Those with information are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
