Cincinnati Brawl Sparks National Outcry: Timeline of a Violent Viral Assault

CINCINNATI – Shocking video footage of a violent street fight in downtown Cincinnati has gone viral, triggering widespread outrage as citizens and officials call for answers. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of July 26, left six civilians injured and has since unfolded into a legal, political, and social firestorm across the country.

Saturday, July 26 – Brawl Breaks Out at 3 A.M.

Around 3:00 a.m., on the corner of Fourth and Elm streets in Cincinnati’s central business district, a large group was seen violently turning on several individuals. Bystander footage captured the moment a man was thrown to the ground and repeatedly beaten while shouting racial slurs. Some witnesses claimed the man had slapped someone moments before the chaos erupted.

In another clip, a woman—later identified as “Holly”—stepped in to try to break up the fight. She was then slammed to the pavement and rendered unconscious.

Shortly after the altercation ended, only a single 911 call was made. “At this point, everybody’s running out… it was about 20, 30 people,” the caller said during the three-minute call. When asked if police were needed, the caller replied, “I would prefer, yes. Absolutely.”

Sunday, July 27 – Police Respond, Officials Speak Out

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge held a press conference to address the incident. “The behavior displayed is nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable,” she stated. She emphasized that the violence appeared to have started following a verbal altercation and that her team was working to identify all involved.

As the videos spread across social media, Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy commented, “It’s a shame Democrats remain silent as violence increases. We’re going to bring law and order back to Ohio.”

Monday, July 28 – Only One 911 Call, Charges Begin

Chief Theetge revealed that, despite the presence of around 100 people during the attack, only one person called 911. “That is unacceptable,” she said. “They were fighting in front of traffic. Why didn’t more people call us?”

Five individuals were identified for their alleged involvement, and charges were being prepared. Four of those suspects had already been located, police sources told Fox News Digital.

Senator JD Vance also commented on the attack: “What I saw was a mob of lawless thugs beating an innocent person. A man sucker punched a middle-aged woman—he should be in jail for a long time.”

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine described the footage as “shocking” and pledged support for law enforcement to bring all offenders to justice.

Tuesday, July 29 – First Arrests Announced

Authorities confirmed the arrests of 34-year-old Montianez Merriweather and 24-year-old DeKyra Vernon. Both face multiple charges, including felonious assault, aggravated riot, and assault.

Wednesday, July 30 – Third Suspect Detained, Victim Speaks Out

A third suspect, 39-year-old Jermaine Matthews, was taken into custody and charged with aggravated riot and assault. During court proceedings, detectives alleged that Matthews and Merriweather coordinated the attack.

“All indications are that Mr. Merriweather positioned himself behind the victim after whispering something to Matthews,” a detective said.

The FBI confirmed its involvement in the investigation.

Senator Bernie Moreno released a photo of Holly, showing visible injuries to her face. “She gave me permission to share this so others never go through what she did,” he stated.

Thursday, July 31 – Mayor Faces Backlash

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval came under criticism for leaving on a family vacation the same day the incident made headlines. He responded: “This was a long-planned celebration for my son. I take both my role as mayor and father seriously.”

Pureval later returned to Cincinnati early to address the situation. Senator Moreno called the city’s leadership “ineffective” and said, “These leaders need to go.”

Meanwhile, Fox News Digital obtained the full 911 call placed after the attack.

Friday, August 1 – Fourth Suspect Arrested

A fourth suspect, 37-year-old Dominique Kittle, was arrested and charged with felony assault, aggravated riot, and two counts of assault. During a press conference, Chief Theetge criticized the crowd for failing to call police. “That is unacceptable,” she repeated. “Why didn’t people step up?”

Mayor Pureval also issued a stern message: “There is no place for violent crime in Cincinnati. We will pursue and hold all responsible individuals accountable—period.”

The FBI and the U.S. Justice Department confirmed that a federal investigation was now underway.

Saturday, August 2 – New Video Emerges

New footage surfaced showing a man using racial slurs before being knocked down, suggesting the altercation may have started earlier than previously believed. Bystander Jay Black, who filmed the scene, said the victims were acting aggressively and added that “a lot of people were actually trying to stop the fight.”

Monday, August 3 – Fifth Suspect Captured in Georgia

The FBI and Atlanta’s Major Offenders Task Force arrested 38-year-old Patrick Rosemond in Georgia. He is charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot and is currently awaiting extradition back to Ohio.

According to records, Rosemond is a Cincinnati resident with no known ties to Georgia. A grand jury is scheduled to review the cases on August 8, including charges filed against Kittle, Vernon, Matthews, and Merriweather.