Fugitive unit ‘actively pursuing’ capture of 3 charged in association with violent Cincinnati attack
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and Police Chief Teresa give updates on suspects involved in the viral attack on ‘The Story.’
CINCINNATI – Mayor Aftab Pureval held his first news conference since early Saturday morning's viral beating in the downtown business district, hours before a fourth suspect was arrested in connection with the brawl.
City officials and community leaders spoke during the briefing, including announcing new criminal charges and more victims from the assault.
A local pastor, Reverend Damon Lynch, explained a version of events based on video footage that he claims he's seen. He said that the white man who was depicted in the video being pummeled actually started the fight, leading to questions about whether the victims of the crime could bear criminal responsibility.
Mayor Aftab Pureval arrives at a press conference about early Saturday morning’s viral beatdown in downtown Cincinnati (Fox News Digital )
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So far, there are six suspects in the crime, according to Police Chief Teresa Theetge. Previously, only five had been announced. Four are in custody, and police are actively searching for the two who remain on the loose, calling them "fugitives."
The fourth suspect, Dominique Kittle, 37, was arrested Friday evening, authorities said. He is expected to be charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot.
Lynch said until "all the mugshots" are seen, race is still a factor in the assault's aftermath.
"For those who want to racialize it, then a black man stepped in between the combatants, separated them and said, ‘this is about stop fighting, everybody needs to chill.,'" he said. "And then, for those who want to racialize it, the white man being steps back in the ring and slaps not the black man that he had just squared up with, but slaps another black man. So after that he was met with disproportionate force."
"But when I see the mugshots, I only see people who look like me," said Lynch, who is black. "I don't see the person who re-engaged. And so until we see all the mugshots, this is still a racial issue."
Asked why this was the first time anyone had heard that version of events, Pureval cited the ongoing investigation, then said there would be more arrests.
"I agree with Pastor Lynch, that there is no doubt that this public safety challenge, that this incident will require further investigation, further charges and further arrests for every single person involved," he said.
Mayor Aftab Pureval speaks at a press conference about early Saturday morning’s viral beatdown in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Fox News Digital)
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"The investigation is ongoing, and I expect that we will have more charges and more arrests as the investigation proceeds," the mayor said later.
"This was an awful incident, and our law enforcement has been working quickly and effectively to bring all responsible to justice," he said while standing alongside other city officials and leaders. "Let me be clear there is no place for violent crime in Cincinnati, whether it's a fight or gun violence. We will pursue those responsible and we will hold them accountable no matter who they are."
Pureval said later that observers have inflamed racial tensions in the aftermath of the attack.
"Cincinnati is a special place. We are a proudly diverse city with a large and vibrant black community that is rich in tradition and history," he said. "The racial dynamics of this fight are unavoidable, and some have cynically used the opportunity to try and divide us along racial lines. That is a choice we must firmly reject."
Pureval also roundly denounced comments made on Facebook by City Councilwoman Victoria Parks, who said the victims "begged for that beat down!"
"I am grateful for the whole story," Parks added in the post.
Cincinnati City Councilwoman Victoria Parks speaks during an event. (Facebook via Victoria Parks)
"I profoundly disagree with Councilmember Victoria Parks. No one deserves to be a victim of violent crime, ever," Pureval said. "And we are working very hard to make sure that a fight like that doesn't happen again in our city."
During the news conference, Theetge provided updates on the progress in the investigation into the brutal crime.
Authorities had previously said five people had been charged, three of whom had been arrested. Theetge said Friday that six people had now been charged with felonious assault and aggravated rioting. The city's fugitive apprehension unit is pursuing other suspects who have not been captured yet.
Theetge also said that six victims have been identified in the viral attack – five males and one female. They were subjected to "unimaginable physical violence," she said.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge speaks Friday at a news conference about last weekend’s viral street assault in downtown Cincinnati. (Fox News Digital)
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Theetge said the city had 11 police officers working in the central business district at the time of the attack, which she said was sufficient.
One of the three suspects apprehended so far in the brutal downtown street beating last Saturday morning was set to be released on bond on Friday.
Jermaine Matthews, 39, was expected to leave the Hamilton County Jail on Friday after paying a combined $270,000 bond. He was hit with four charges stemming from the beatdown, according to his attorney, Brandon Fox.
"The way that it works, he's got an electronic monitoring component to his bond," Fox told Fox News Digital. "Basically an ankle monitor. So, while he posted the financial component, it still requires the probation department to come over and ensure that the ankle monitor is on, [to] tell him the rules, where he can go when, he can go there, that kind of stuff."
Matthews was charged with two counts of assault, two counts of felony assault and aggravated riot for his alleged participation in the brutal brawl, which has garnered national attention this week.
During a bond hearing Thursday afternoon, Fox told the court that Matthews did not start the fight.
"That video that we discussed yesterday has now been released of that individual slapping on my client and then the fight ensuing thereafter," he said.
Fox also said that Matthews is not responsible for knocking unconscious the male victim seen in the viral video.
A photo showing the bruised face of a victim of the viral beating in Cincinnati, only identified as Holly. (Tricia Mackie / Fox 19 on X)
"That person was knocked unconscious by a different individual, and my client moved that person from his business vehicle. That's where the basis of that charge comes from," Fox said.
Fox also claimed that one of the victims used racial slurs before the fight.
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"I will tell you, that there's a lot more to the story than what's been reported thus far," he told Fox News Digital on Friday. "We expect that additional information will come forth today. That information will likely dispel a lot of the narrative that's already been placed out by politicians."
Matthews' next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 8, according to jail records.
Jermaine Matthews, 39, left, stands in front of Municipal Court Judge Michael Peck during his arraignment on charges stemming from the early morning downtown brawl on July 26, 2025. His bond was set at $100,000 on July 30, 2025. (Liz Dufour/The Enquirer, Imagn)
A Cincinnati Police detective was also present during the hearing and disputed that the slap began the fight.
He told the judge that "we have video footage that totally disputes the slap being the first incident of someone putting their hands on someone."
Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor David Hickenlooper also weighed in.
"This person is unconscious," he said of the victim. "[Matthews] wasn't rendering aid. He was dragging him into the middle of the street after he had been knocked out. This is my understanding."
Montianez Merriweather and Dekyra Vernon have been arrested in connection to a fight in Cincinnati that gained national attention over the weekend. (Hamilton County Sheriff's Office)
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Two other suspects remain in jail as of Friday morning.
Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dekyra Vernon, 24, were arrested Tuesday night. Both face felonious assault, aggravated riot and assault charges. Merriweather is being held on a $500,000 bond, while Vernon is being held on a $200,000 bond.
Theetge said the names of the three remaining suspects would be released when they are captured.
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