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18h ago

Two Arrested in Viral Cincinnati Mob Brawl as Federal Hate Crime Inquiry Intensifies

The FBI and Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division have launched a hate crime probe as police pursue three remaining suspects charged in the violent downtown melee.

Dekyra Vernon (L) and Montianez Merriweather (R) and Jermaine Matthews (inset).
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(R) Elon Musk looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025. (L) Vice President JD Vance visits Metallus in Canton, Ohio, on Monday, July 28, 2025.
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Overview

  • Police Chief Teresa Theetge has charged five individuals in the downtown brawl, with two arrested and three outstanding warrants issued.
  • Montianez Merriweather and Dekyra Vernon were taken into custody on felonious assault and aggravated riot charges, though Merriweather was released on a $400 bail.
  • The FBI and Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division have launched an investigation into potential hate crime and civil rights violations linked to the viral attack.
  • Only one bystander phoned 911 during the assault, drawing criticism from law enforcement over community inaction despite widespread video recordings.
  • Vice President JD Vance and other political leaders have condemned the violence and urged prosecutors to seek the fullest penalties against those involved.