EX-MAYOR SHOT DOWN EUGENE JENKINS OWNED WELL-KNOWN BARBER SHOP

Former Lincoln Heights mayor and well-known businessman Eugene Jenkins was shot to death today.

Police were called to the 500 block of Van Buren Avenue, a residential area, shortly after 9 a.m., and Jenkins, 55, died about 30 minutes later in University Hospital.

''He was a good and religious man,'' said a family friend, Carl Jones Sr., 70, of Lincoln Heights. ''He was well-known and liked in the community.''

Circumstances surrounding the shooting were unclear, but residents say he may have been in his pickup truck at the time.

The shooting occurred about four blocks from Jenkins' home at 1117 Wabash Ave. in Lincoln Heights.

Jenkins had been mayor of Lincoln Heights for about three months in 1993, but resigned to pursue personal business.

When Jenkins was named mayor, he vowed to continue the city's fight against drug dealing, a perennial problem in this community of about 4,800 which lies along I-75 north of Cincinnati.

At the time of his resignation, he told the village administrator the job was too confining.

Jenkins also was a well-known barber and had operated Jenkins' Barber Shop, at 1089 Jackson St., since 1961.

His late mother also had operated a beauty parlor in the same building.

In addition to operating a barber shop, Jenkins owned houses and apartments in the community.

Before being appointed mayor he served as vice mayor. ''Gene was one of our community's leading philanthropists,'' said former Lincoln Height Village Manager Laverne Mitchell, who served on council with Jenkins.

''He owned a lot of property and donated one of his lots so a Habitat (for Humanity) house could be built on it.''

Four-time former Lincoln Heights Mayor James Mobley was stunned by the news. ''It's hard to believe,'' he said. ''He was a nice person with a lot of smiles.'' Jenkins' Barber Shop was the place to be seen for much of the community.

''That was the gathering spot. He's had that shop ever since I was a little boy,'' said Lincoln Heights Vice Mayor Charles Willis.

''I can't believe this. Oh goodness. I was the auditor when he was mayor. He was an outstanding man, very reasonable, very sound judgment, a compassionate person,'' Willis said.

''Oh goodness. He couldn't have been the target. No one would want to do that to him.''

Jenkins, born in Cincinnati, was married. He and his wife, Carolyn, have two adult children, a son named Eugene and a daughter, Terry.

Jenkins attended the former Moeller Barber College in Cincinnati and graduated in February, 1959, according to the Ohio State Barber Board