Six suspects have been indicted on charges related to a violent attack on two people in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, that occurred late July. The six suspects are facing eight charges each: three counts of felonious assault, three counts of assault, and two counts of aggravated riot.
If convicted on all counts, each suspect faces nearly 30 years in prison, per WLWT5. In announcing the indictments, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said, “What I saw on video is not the Cincinnati I know and love. These charges hold those involved in the attack accountable.”
Five suspects have made appearances in court so far: Aisha Devaughn, 25; Dominique Kittle, 37; Jermaine Matthews, 39; Montianez Merriweather, 34; and Dekyra Vernon, 24. A sixth suspect, 38-year-old Patrick Rosemond, was arrested in Fulton County, Georgia, on Monday, and is accused of hitting the female victim named Holly.
Photos shared of Holly, who had gone up to a man who was being attacked by a group in the early hours of July 26 to check on him when she was beaten and knocked unconscious, showed the woman with large black eyes and other injuries to her face.
The Hamilton County Association of Chiefs of Police has said that it will hold a roundtable discussion with court members, elected officials, and other justice system partners on ways to strengthen public safety, including the impacts of current bail reform policies, and promoting consistent sentencing to deter repeat offenders, in order to strengthen public confidence in the judicial system.
“This collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to improving outcomes for all who live and work in our communities,” the group said in a statement, adding that “We must have the ability to see exactly how criminal sentences are being imposed, how bonds are being set, and which judges are making these decisions from the bench.”
In a statement Friday, the NAACP criticized the incident, saying, “The brawl was broadcast on social media which has overwhelmingly cast a shadow of negativity upon an otherwise incredible array of events in which the citizens and visitors who were hosted had an opportunity to partake. The Music Festival should not be blamed for this avoidable act.”
“It appears that a lot of bad decisions were made by various people, and as such, we ask that a thorough investigation by local law enforcement officials be permitted to be fully conducted to allow all persons involved to be given their day in court. However, we are extremely concerned that video footage appears to have been used to bring potential participants in the brawl to face consequences and not the individual who appears to have been the verbal and physical initiator of the incident.”
Hellbound and Down 