A chaotic night in downtown Cincinnati has taken another turn as a white man, initially reported as a victim in a viral street fight, is now the eighth person to be charged over the incident.
Authorities have formally accused the 45-year-old man of disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, in connection with the violent clash that left six people injured last month.
Shocking Footage Captures Brutal Attack
The fight, which erupted in the early hours of July 26, stunned viewers across the country after being captured on video.
In the footage, a man wearing a white T-shirt was shoved to the ground and pummeled by two assailants while bystanders cheered and joined in.
The attack lasted nearly a minute, with the victim lying in the middle of the street and reportedly being stepped on repeatedly.
When the assault paused, he struggled to stand but collapsed again, clearly disoriented from the beating.
Woman Tries to Intervene and Suffers Injuries
Amid the chaos, a woman identified as Holly courageously jumped in to help the man.
Unfortunately, she was knocked unconscious during the melee and fell to the ground.
Graphic images showed Holly with a black eye and a swollen face.
Holly criticized the police response, claiming officers “acted nonchalant” when they arrived and did not call for backup or an ambulance.
She defended her decision to intervene, stating she acted because it was simply “the right thing to do.”
Court Date Set and Ongoing Investigation
The newly charged man is scheduled to appear in court on August 26.
His arrest comes amid broader criticism from community leaders about potential racial bias in how the charges are being applied.
Rev. Damon Lynch, a local leader, questioned the selective arrests, saying, “When I see the mugshots I only see people who look like me.
I don’t see the person who re-engaged. And so, until we see all the mugshots, this is still a racial issue.”
Others Already Charged
Six individuals—Patrick Rosemond, Jermaine Matthews, Montianez Merriweather, Dominique Kittle, DeKyra Vernon, and Aisha Devaughn—had previously faced charges including felonious assault, assault, and aggravated rioting.
Merriweather is also facing a federal gun charge for illegally possessing a weapon as a felon.
Matthews posted a $250,000 bond, while Vernon and Devaughn were recently released after their bond was lowered by over $100,000.
Gregory Wright, 32, was indicted on aggravated riot and felony aggravated robbery charges for allegedly stealing the victim’s necklace during the attack.
Cincinnati police are still searching for another suspect, releasing a photo to the public to help identify him.
National Attention and Political Reaction
The brawl drew national attention and condemnation, including comments from Vice President JD Vance.
He criticized the violence, particularly the attack on Holly, calling it “disgusting” and describing the man who struck her as deserving a long prison sentence.
Vance emphasized the need for safety in American cities, stating:
“What I saw is a mob of lawless thugs beating up an innocent person.
It’s disgusting, and I hope every single one of those people who engage in violence is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
He added that if more responsible bystanders had been present, they might have intervened further, and stressed the importance of holding violent offenders accountable to make cities safe for families and children.
Community Seeks Justice
As Cincinnati grapples with the fallout, residents and officials continue to call for accountability.
With charges mounting and more suspects potentially facing prosecution, the city is hoping for both justice for the victims and a clear message that street violence will not be tolerated.
