Cincinnati attack probe: Two held over brutal downtown assault; three more arrest warrants issued

Police have arrested two individuals in connection with a violent downtown assault that left two people seriously injured over the weekend, Cincinnati chief of police Teresa Theetge announced during a public safety meeting on Tuesday (local time). Theetge confirmed the arrests of 34-year-old Montianez Merriweather and 24-year-old Dekyra Vernon. However, no charges have yet been publicly disclosed. Jail records from Hamilton County also do not list any charges the pair may be facing. FOX 19 in Cincinnati reported that the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office has issued three additional warrants for further arrests related to the incident. The Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Queen City Lodge expressed gratitude to the Cincinnati Police Department for taking swift action in what it called a “heinous attack” early Saturday morning. In a social media post, the FOP also highlighted a prior case involving Merriweather, who was indicted on 10 July 2025 for charges including receiving stolen property, weapons under disability, and improper transportation of a firearm. According to the post, Merriweather was released on a $4,000 bond, requiring just 10%, or $400, for his release. “This is your court system,” the FOP post stated. The violent melee unfolded on the corner of Fourth Street and Elm Street, just outside a popular nightclub called LoVe and a neighbouring late-night restaurant, as per Fox news. A video of the incident, which sparked national outrage after going viral on social media, showed a mob viciously attacking two individuals, including a woman who was knocked unconscious, while bystanders filmed instead of helping.