Three people lost their lives on August 31st in Cincinnati, Ohio. This event was deemed a triple homicide. Unfortunately, few articles or media outlets have reported this, which is why I felt compelled to share this horrific event. The people who lost their lives were Eden Adunga, Feven Adunga, and Bemnet Deresse. They were all in their 20s and just beginning to live their lives.
Who Are They?
Eden and Feven Adunga were sisters and both worked at the Good Samaritan Hospital. They came to America from Ethiopia when they were teenagers and had been living with their uncle since. Back in Ethiopia, their father was in prison for killing their mother, which is why they came to the U.S. Both wanted to go into the medical field, which is why they worked at a local hospital. Bemnet Deresse graduated with a degree in Biomedical engineering and had the goal of creating his own organization and helping people back in Ethiopia.
I share this information with you because I want to help you understand them better and see them as people, not just as victims. Due to hearing about people getting shot or killed so often on the news, we can become numb to it, and it can be easy to forget that these people had entire lives and goals just like you and me.
What Happened?
On August 31st, Samuel Eriksen, who was reportedly Eden Adunga’s boyfriend, drove up to the sisters’ apartments and stayed outside watching. Neighbors reported seeing him and even talking to him. Fox19 News shared that one neighbor said, “I went over and asked him if he was okay’ and he said ‘Yes.’ He was not unfriendly,” he explained. “My dog went up to him and he played with the dog for a second, and I said, ‘Well, you got a friend for life,’ and he said, ‘Well, no, maybe for a minute,’ and then he said, ‘You can go now.”
It was minutes after that that neighbors heard gunshots and muffled arguments.
Allegedly, Samuel thought Bemnet had romantic feelings for Samuel’s girlfriend, Eden, so Samuel was waiting until Bemnet came to the sisters’ apartment to prove his point. However, Bemnet had gone to the sisters’ apartment to watch a soccer match on TV since he was friends with both of them, as shared by his family.
The facts after this part are alleged since the information available was limited. It’s alleged that Eden had gotten into an argument with Samuel outside, and he got agitated. Once he saw Bemnet approach the apartment, he became angry at Eden and Bemnet. Samuel, who had purchased a gun earlier that month and was having suicidal thoughts, gunned down both Eden and Bemnet. It’s alleged that Eden had texted her sister to lock the doors since he [Samuel] was here. Samuel shot both Eden and Bemnet outside and then went upstairs and murdered Feven.
It’s reported that Bemnet didn’t die at the scene and that he was transported to the hospital around 1 p.m. The truly saddening part is that no police or hospital staff contacted Bemnet’s family until after he had died in the hospital at 1 am. His family said, “ He was in the hospital all day with no one by his side. We are heartbroken, we are angry, and we need more answers from CPD. Why didn’t the police take it seriously when police reports were made by the girls about that man harassing her.” What Bemnets’ family is referring to is that Eden had reported to cops that Samuel was suicidal and had purchased a gun; he had also been harassing Eden and her sister Feven. Police contacted Samuel’s parents, making sure they were aware that Samuel was suicidal and could have access to a gun, and advised them to lock up their own weapons. Still, more could’ve been done after Eden had reported to the cops.
After Samuel murdered Eden, Feven, and Bemnet, he went home and shot himself and died.
The Ethiopian community all came out for a vigil in early September to remember Bemnet, Eden, and Feven. A horrible tragedy that will forever impact their families and the Ethiopian community. My prayers go out to the families of Eden, Feven, Bemnet, and Samuel, as they all lost a loved one.
My thoughts
Before ending, I do want to say that it’s unfortunate how this could have been prevented if Eden’s report to the police 23 days before her death had been taken more seriously. If a suicidal person has access to a gun, it then becomes unsafe for everyone involved, and serious action needs to be taken to protect that person and anyone they could harm. Policies that push to screen people before purchasing guns to see if they are mentally stable and nonviolent need to be stricter. I’ve read and written many articles that involve gun violence, and it breaks my heart to see how so many families have to bear the effects of it.
Rest in peace to all who were killed.
GoFundMe for Bemnet to open a medical organization in Ethiopia in his name: https://gofund.me/9a01d2de5
Works Cited:
“Death toll rises in Mt. Washington suspected triple homicide-attempted suicide.” FOX19, 1 September 2025, https://www.kold.com/2025/09/01/death-toll-rises-mt-washington-suspected-triple-homicide-attempted-suicide/. Accessed 18 October 2025.
Kershaw, Daisy. “New 911 call reveals victim in Mt. Washington triple murder reported gunman weeks before shooting.” WLWT, 11 September 2025, https://www.wlwt.com/article/mount-washington-murder-suicide-911-police-victim/66058303. Accessed 18 October 2025.
Ordonez, Brenda. “Friends, family mourn victims killed in Mt. Washington triple homicide.” FOX19, 2 September 2025, https://www.fox19.com/2025/09/03/friends-family-mourn-victims-killed-mt-washington-triple-homicide/. Accessed 18 October 2025.
“ፖሊስ ምን እያለ ነው? #Ohio #Cincinnati #Crime #Ethiopia.” YouTube, www.youtube.com/live/d1PES6yA8bw?si=XruddRnddRSlv3eB.
