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CORRYVILLE, OH — A deadly encounter outside a liquor store in Cincinnati underscores the severe risk involved in trying to draw a weapon when already facing one—known as “drawing from the drop.” In this case, despite getting his shot off first, the armed citizen was still fatally wounded in the exchange.

The shooting took place Saturday night in front of Staggerlee’s liquor store on Short Vine Street. Surveillance footage, reviewed by local authorities and media, shows 25-year-old Kyle Mirick standing outside the store when a 15-year-old suspect approaches, shoves him, and draws a handgun.

As Mirick turns to flee, he appears to draw his own firearm and, while still retreating, manages to raise his weapon and fire first. However, the suspect also fires, and both are hit. Mirick was able to run a short dis

tance before collapsing in the street. He was taken to the hospital but did not survive. The suspect, also injured, was transported to UC Medical Center and later taken into custody. He has been charged with murder.

Mirick, a father of two and aspiring influencer, had been interviewed by WCPO just weeks prior after witnessing a separate fatal shooting. His family is now mourning a devastating loss, remembering him as a loving father, brother, and son.

The suspect, whose identity is being withheld due to his age, is currently facing charges in juvenile court. The Hamilton County prosecutor has not yet indicated whether the teen will be tried as an adult.

The Harsh Reality of Drawing from the Drop

This incident offers a sobering example of the dangers involved in attempting to draw when a firearm is already aimed at you. While Mirick did manage to draw and fire first, he was still mortally wounded in the process. This highlights a key tactical point: just because you get your shot off first doesn’t guarantee survival or success. Reactionary draws against a ready threat are incredibly high risk and leave no room for error.

It’s critical for armed citizens to think through these scenarios ahead of time. In situations where a threat already has the drop on you, survival may depend less on speed and more on timing, cover, or even compliance—depending on the circumstances. While it’s possible to prevail, as some real-world examples have shown, it is far from a guaranteed outcome.

Also worth noting is the setting of the incident. While we can’t always control when or where danger finds us, standing outside a liquor store late at night—especially in an area with prior violent incidents—carries an elevated risk. As armed citizens, minimizing exposure to high-risk environments is part of a sound personal protection strategy.