A fourth individual has been detained following a brutal brawl in Cincinnati. Reports indicate that racial slurs were hurled at the assailants prior to the attack, which left two victims in serious condition.
Police arrested 37-year-old Dominique Kittle at approximately 6:20 PM on Friday, nearly a week after he allegedly attacked a Russian woman and an unidentified man.
Kittle faces charges of felony assault and aggravated assault, with his bond set at $150,000.
He was with several others, including 39-year-old Jermaine Matthews and 34-year-old Montianez Merriweather, along with 24-year-old Dekira Vernon, who had already been apprehended earlier this week.
Two additional suspects are also being sought in connection with the violent incident, as law enforcement has chosen not to disclose their identities until they are in custody.
The group is accused of orchestrating an “ambush” involving six victims, with one reportedly left vulnerable on the city streets.
Police Chief Teresa Tegge described the violence captured in a viral video as not only shocking but “totally cruel,” emphasizing the violent nature of the incident.
Kittle’s arrest coincided with the release of another video detailing events just before the fight erupted.
In the video, a man can be heard shouting, “Get him! Get that little n!” according to information obtained by local news outlets.
Attorney Brandon Fox, who represents Matthews, shared footage showing two Black men appearing to try to calm Matthews before the situation escalated.
Merriweather’s family asserts that he was subjected to racial slurs and that this provocation contributed to the fight.
Police state that Merriweather approached Matthews and verbally instigated a confrontation, but Fox argues the two men do not know each other and that Merriweather was involved in a separate altercation.
“It wasn’t a Black racist mob,” Fox explained. “These were individual skirmishes ignited by racial slurs.”
The incident has raised questions about racial tensions, as four arrested individuals, all Black, are accused of racism toward white victims.
One victim, a woman named Holly, reportedly suffered severe injuries and returned to Russia after sustaining significant facial bruises during the melee.
Viral footage appears to show Holly striking back amid the chaos.
Authorities have promised to release additional footage from the altercation to shed more light on the incident.
