A shooting erupted around 6:15 p.m. EDT Sunday at Punch Bowl Social, a restaurant and arcade-style bar on West 11th Street in Cleveland’s Flats East Bank, police confirmed.
According to WKYC, the violence began with a fight inside the venue that escalated into the parking lot.
Five people were injured in the exchange of gunfire, including one person believed to be a suspect. Two victims were transported to a local hospital in critical condition, while three others with less severe injuries were treated at the scene, Citizen App reported.
Police Response and Search for Suspect
Cleveland Police said at least one suspect fled northeast toward the Cuyahoga Port Authority railroad tracks, where witnesses reported seeing him discard an automatic weapon. Officers recovered both rifle and pistol casings outside the venue, suggesting multiple firearms were used, per Citizen App.
The Flats East Bank was crowded following a Cleveland Browns game, and firefighters already on scene for an unrelated overcrowding incident reported hearing gunshots and alerted police, according to News 5 Cleveland. Authorities expanded the crime scene to West 10th Street and blocked traffic on West 9th. The Regional Transit Authority temporarily suspended train operations in the area as officers and drones searched the tracks.
Witness Accounts and Ongoing Investigation
Citizen App footage showed large crowds outside Punch Bowl Social as first responders attended to the wounded. A blood trail was reported near the scene, and police considered deploying canine units to track the suspect if drone support proved insufficient.
As of late Sunday, Cleveland Police had not announced any arrests, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear. Detectives are reviewing surveillance video from nearby businesses to retrace the suspect’s movements.
Violence and Safety Concerns in Cleveland
Punch Bowl Social, known for bowling, karaoke, and rooftop views, is a popular nightlife destination in the revitalised Flats East Bank. The venue has not previously been linked to violent crime, though Cleveland has seen a spate of shootings in 2025. Fox 8 reported a May 26 incident near East 13th Street and St. Clair Avenue that left one person dead and three injured.
The city has been grappling with rising gun violence. In May 2025, Mayor Justin Bibb announced a summer safety plan aimed at reducing shootings through community partnerships. Still, by early September, 109 fatal shootings or crashes had been recorded in the city, according to compiled law enforcement data.