Photo: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office; Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Six individuals involved in a viral beating incident in downtown Cincinnati have been indicted by a grand jury on new charges. The suspects—Patrick Rosemond, Jermaine Matthews, Montianez Merriweather, DeKyra Vernon, Dominique Kittle, and Aisha Devaughn—now face three counts each of felonious assault, three counts of assault, and two counts of aggravated rioting. If convicted on all charges, they could each face up to 29 years in prison.
The incident occurred on July 26 at the corner of Fourth and Elm streets and was captured on video, sparking national outrage. The footage shows a man being violently thrown to the ground and kicked repeatedly. Witnesses reported that racial slurs were exchanged during the altercation. One of the victims, Holly, suffered severe injuries, including brain damage.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich emphasized that the charges reflect the seriousness of the attack. "What I saw on video is not the Cincinnati I know and love," she said. The charges were applied under Ohio's complicity laws, meaning all defendants face the same charges as the principal offender.
The case has been assigned to Judge Robert Goering in the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge stated that additional footage, including body camera footage, will be released soon to provide a fuller picture of the incident. The police are still investigating, and the FBI is also involved in the review.