'I was trying to defend her and defend myself:' Father whose nine-year-old daughter was shot dead as he grappled with home invaders speaks out

  • Alex Thompson was struggling with a gunman who forced his way into his home 
  • When he tried to grab gun several shots went off and one struck his daughter 
  • Alexandrea Thompson, 9, was shot in chest while she was hiding behind her dad 
  • Police believe bullet that struck her may have gone through father's body first 
  • Her father was shot in the hand, arm and abdomen, and is in critical condition 
  • Police said at least two other men invaded the home, according to witnesses

By Hannah Parry For Dailymail.com

Published: 23:07 EST, 26 January 2017 | Updated: 23:32 EST, 26 January 2017

The father of a nine-year-old girl who was shot dead as he grappled with home invaders has spoken out.

Alexandrea Thompson was fatally shot last Wednesday by a bullet which traveled through her father Alex and into her chest, authorities say. 

'I was trying to defend her and defend myself,' said Alex who had been struggling with three gunman who burst into their Mount Auburn house when they opened fire.

Alex Thompson was shot four times but survived.

Alex Thompson, the father of a nine-year-old girl who was shot dead as he grappled with home invaders, has spoken out

Alexandrea Thompson (left and right) was fatally shot last Wednesday by a bullet which traveled through her father Alex and into her chest

The heartbroken father told 5 WLWT that the family has been left devastated by the death of their daughter.

'I just want them to catch my daughter's killer. I want to know who did this and why,' Thompson said. 'She's an angel, sweetest thing on earth,' her father said. 'If you met her, she left a print on you. You will always know her and remember her.'

Thompson said that the nightmare began at around 5.30pm last Wednesday when three men came to the door asking for marijuana and money.

When another one his daughters refused and tried to close the door, they barged in, he said.

Thompson was upstairs playing a video game when he heard his daughter cry out.

A protest was held outside the home after the tragedy as Alexandrea's family called for justice

Thompson said that the nightmare began at around 5.30pm last Wednesday when three men came to the door asking for marijuana and money

Alex had been struggling with three gunman who burst into their Mount Auburn house when they opened fire

'She was calling me and said, 'daddy,' and I'm like 'what,' and I turn to the other side and I see the guy covering her mouth with a gun to her head,' he said.

Thompson said he saw his moment, and attempted to wrestle the gun out of one of the intruder's hands, hoping that his daughter would run out of the room.

Instead, she ran behind her father, according to her aunt. 

'She was behind her dad. She was probably scared,' Alexandrea's aunt told   Cincinnati Enquirer. 'She ran behind him instead of running away.'

Thompson was shot in the hand, arm and abdomen, and it's believed the bullet that struck Alexandrea may have gone through her father's body first.   

Police said at least three men were seen leaving the home, by witnesses who said they left in a white two-door car that was possibly a convertible.

After the shots were fired, Alexandrea's older sister ran to where the shooting happened and picked up her sister. Alexandrea (left and right) was bleeding and 'breathing real hard' as her 15-year-old sister cradled her, her aunt said 

After the shots were fired, Alexandrea's older sister ran to where the shooting happened and picked up her sister. Alexandrea was one of nine children who lived at the home with Alex and his fiance. 

Andrea told the Enquirer that Alexandrea was bleeding and 'breathing real hard' as her 15-year-old sister cradled her. 'She took her last breath in her sister's arms,' she said.

The fourth-grader was pronounced dead at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. 

'Was this random or did they have the wrong house,' Thompson said. 'Who tries to rob somebody who's got nine kids.'

Her father was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center where is listed in critical condition, according to WLWT.  

Police are still searching for the suspects, but Thompson said he had never seen them before.  A $10,000 reward for their arrest is being offered by a local business owner. 

A funeral will be held for Alexandrea tomorrow.

The incident occurred when three men arrived at the family's Mount Auburn house around 5.30pm. Mr Thompson was shot in the hand, arm and abdomen, and it's believed the bullet that struck Alexandrea may have gone through her father's body first

A makeshift memorial (pictured) was placed on the steps of her family's home. The community gathered together after the shooting and several faith leaders are hoping to raise at least $9,000 toward a reward for information leading to an arrest

Alexandrea's classmates remembered her 'welcoming' personality on a poster board after learning of her death. This note was left at the makeshift memorial in front of the family's home

Thompson's mother, Catherine Thompson, told the Enquirer, that her granddaughter 'was a very sweet, adorable child'. 'She was so adorable.'

Alexandrea was described as a bright leader at her charter school, Mount Auburn International Academy. 

Students, faculty and staff struggled to understand how the little girl with the big grin who gave strong hugs, will never come to school again.

Claudia Ehrle, the school's interim director, called Alexandrea a natural leader: 'She led by example.'

Her classmates remembered her 'welcoming' personality on a green poster board after learning of her death. 

Some wrote, 'I love you sissy,' while others said, 'you will always have a special place in my heart'. 

Grief counselors were at the school Thursday for any of its 431 students who needed to talk.  

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