It was a shocking opening act for Cincinnati Music Hall's La Traviata: fifteen minutes before curtain, police officers shot and killed a stabbing suspect just outside the venue.
The man was identified as 48-year-old Juan Mack.
At 6:43 PM on June 28, a 911 caller reported that a woman jumped out of a car, ran toward his garage, then was stabbed about ten times by a man who then fled the scene.
Police located the blue Camry 20 minutes later, about 4 miles from Music Hall. Officers told the blood-covered Mack to stop, but the suspect kept driving. When he did get off the vehicle, he was carrying a Ruger .40 caliber handgun. Police told him to drop the weapon as he walked along Elm Street, and when he stopped near Music Hall. He held on to the gun even after a sergeant fired multiple 40mm rounds at him. When Mack raised his arm at the officers, four policemen opened fire, shooting him six times. Other officers immediately rushed toward Mack to render aid.
No bystanders or officers were hurt in the incident, and the opera continued unimpeded save for a short delay, and an announcement just before Act 3, delivered by Artistic Director Evans Mirageas, who said that the police had issued an all-clear for the audience to exit the hall. With Elm Street cordoned, however, the audience was ushered in a narrow passageway to exit on 14th Street.
Cincinnati Opera CEO Christopher Milligan said: "We're grateful to the Cincinnati Police Department for their quick response in ensuring the community's safety. We're also thankful that no Cincinnati Opera or Music Hall patrons or personnel were involved in the incident."
The shooting happened on the opening night of Cincinnati Opera's La Traviata run, which sets Giuseppe Verdi's work in the Roaring 20s, rather than in the 1840s. The production is directed by Trevore Ross, who wishes to highlight that Violetta is surrounded by other societal outcasts.
The Opera offered free tickets to one of its two remaining La Traviata performances for patrons who were unable to enter Music Hall.
