Cincinnati’s mayor on Tuesday opposed a move by a judge to grant bail to one of two suspects who has multiple previous convictions and is allegedly linked to a mass shooting during a gun battle that injured nine people at a crowded weekend concert. 

In a statement, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval called the $50,000 bond given to Franeek Cobb, 24, “extremely concerning,” saying it’s a public safety issue.

“The decision to allow for the release of the accused is problematic and extremely concerning, and I stand in opposition,” the mayor said. 

“This is a community safety issue. The accused, after such a horrific event involving so many victims, should not be on the streets during the court process.”

Pureval said he spoke with the City Law Department for its perspective and Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich to request a fast-tracked grand jury hearing and ensure Cobb remains in custody during the course of his legal proceedings. 

Under state law, Cobb’s case will go to a grand jury within 10 days for formal charges, the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office told Fox News Digital. 

Cobb and Derrick Long, 29, are accused of shooting nine people during a gunfire exchange at the Riverfront Live music venue in Cincinnati’s East End early Sunday. About 800 people were inside at the time, authorities said. 

Prosecutors said Cobb had a personal grudge against someone he saw at the venue and opened fire, Local 12 reported. A prosecutor asked a judge to set a high bond for Cobb, citing his previous conviction that bars him from having a gun.

Both men are charged with one count of felonious assault. 

MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING ALABAMA TEEN CHEERLEADER, SPRAYING BULLETS AT FRIENDS, RELEASED ON BOND

While Cobb was granted bond, federal prosecutors charged both suspects with illegally possessing a gun or ammunition as a convicted felon Tuesday. 

The state charges will go forward first, the prosecutor’s office said, but if Cobb posts bond, he would immediately be taken into federal custody.

Cobb was inside the venue when he spotted Long and opened fire, prompting patrons to seek cover, the Justice Department said. Long fell to the ground before allegedly brandishing a gun and firing multiple gunshots toward Cobb.

“Gun violence in Cincinnati must end,” U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace said in a statement announcing the federal charges. “Our top priority is protecting our communities and holding accountable those who threaten them. If you pull a trigger in an illegal act of violence or otherwise illegally possess a firearm or ammunition, rest assured we will do everything we can to send you to federal prison.”.

Investigators seized a handgun that Cobb allegedly dropped at the bar while fleeing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined casings recovered from the area where Long was shooting were all fired from the same .45-caliber gun. 

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Cobb has a 2022 felony conviction of having weapons while under disability. Long has several prior felony convictions, including one case involving trafficking in heroin and another for trafficking fentanyl, as well as failure to comply, carrying concealed weapons, arson and receiving stolen property.

Cobb and Long face up to 15 years on the federal charges. 

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The Milwaukee Bucks host the tanking Utah Jazz tonight, March 7, at Fiserv Forum in a must-win game that also sees the Bucks on a four-game losing streak. They have also lost five of their last seven games to fall further out of the postseason picture in the Eastern Conference.

“‘Cause this league, anything can happen,” Bucks guard AJ Green said after the team shot around Saturday morning. “We’ve lost four in a row. Somebody else can lose four in a row, we win four in a row and we’re right back there. So just control the controllables, focus on us.”

The Bucks are 26-35 overall and even with Giannis Antetokounmpo returning to action this week, the offense has continued to struggle. The team has scored fewer than 100 points in four of those five losses. Milwaukee’s defense, one of the poorest in the league all season, has remained sievelike as well, allowing 120.1 points per game in over the last seven.

Utah would appear to be a good team to break a losing streak against, as the Jazz are efforting to finish with one of the league’s worst records. At 19-44, they have the fifth-worst mark in the league. If their pick falls out of the top eight in May’s NBA draft lottery, it will go to Oklahoma City as part of a 2021 trade.

That said, the Jazz have the seventh-best scoring offense in the league and young guards in Keyonte George (24 points per game) and Ace Bailey (12.4) that could give the Bucks trouble. Utah does own the league’s worst scoring defense, however.

Is Giannis playing?

Yes.

The Bucks superstar is no longer on the injury report after returning from a nearly six-week absence due to a right calf strain. Antetokounmpo is playing under a minutes restriction, however, and logged just under 26 minutes in his first two games on March 2 and March 4.

More: What does Giannis Antetokounmpo want? He wants to retire with the Milwaukee Bucks

Is Doc Rivers retiring?

On March 5, Rivers’ former ESPN colleague Stephen A. Smith said on a SiriusXM radio that the Bucks’ head coach was going to hang it up after the season.

Following his team’s practice on March 6, Rivers issued somewhat of a denial.

“No, I’m not getting into that,” Rivers said. “That’s something that’s; I think he feels that way, but not from me.”

Smith offered his take on Rivers’ future when he was asked if Ja Morant would be helped by being coached by the Hall of Fame finalist if he were to be acquired by the Bucks in the offseason.

“It’s not gonna be Doc Rivers because Doc Rivers is gonna retire at the end of this season,” Smith said. “Doc Rivers has been coaching for close to 25 years, this is it for him. He’s gonna step away.”

NBA playoff standings

The Bucks are out of the postseason picture entirely. Here are the play-in standings in the Eastern Conference heading into game play on March 7:

No. 7: Miami (35-29): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. Milwaukee travels to Miami on March 12.