Five confess to charges in violent Cincinnati attack that gained widespread attention last summer

Cincinnati Assault Case Update

Five individuals have admitted guilt related to a violent altercation that gained widespread attention in downtown Cincinnati last year.

On Monday, four of these men entered guilty pleas to felony charges, while a fifth faced misdemeanor charges. This information was reported by a local news outlet.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on July 26, 2025, at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Elm Street.

Defense attorneys suggested that the fight was incited when one victim allegedly used a racial slur directed at members of the accused group.

Footage of the brawl went viral, particularly a clip showing a woman being knocked unconscious, which attracted millions of views online.

In another disturbing part of the video, a man was seen being thrown to the ground and receiving over 20 punches to the head.

Among those who pleaded guilty are Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Meriwether, 35, Gregory Wright, 33, and Aisha DeVaughn, 26.

Matthews pleaded guilty to aggravated riot and attempted felony assault, which could lead to a sentence of up to 4.5 years in prison. His lawyer mentioned that the racial slur was directed at him.

Surveillance footage captured Matthews approaching a man, followed by a punch to the head.

Just moments later, the man retaliated by slapping Matthews before being thrown to the ground and assaulted.

Meriwether and DeVaughn both pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and aggravated riot, with potential sentences of up to three years each.

Wright, accused of stealing a chain from the victim after he was downed by Matthews, pleaded guilty to felony theft and misdemeanor riot, the former carrying a maximum penalty of 18 months.

Another participant, Dekila Vernon, 25, also admitted guilt to misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges associated with the fight.

There are still pending charges against two additional defendants, Patrick Rosemond, 39, and Dominic Kittle, 38.

Earlier this year, a judge dismissed disorderly conduct charges against a white man previously identified as one of the victims.

The altercation raised concerns about possible racial motivations, prompting remarks from political figures like Vice President J.D. Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy.