a day ago
Two suspects in viral Cincinnati brawl walk free after having their bond slashed
Two women accused of being involved in a brutal Cincinnati brawl that went viral have been allowed to walk free from jail after having their bond slashed.
DeKyra Vernon, 24, and Aisha Devaughn, 25, both accused of felonious assault and aggravated rioting last month, have now released from the Hamilton County Jail on bond.
The pair had their bond significantly reduced while being arraigned on Thursday, with Vernon's being slashed from $250,000 to $25,000 at ten percent, and Devaughn's reduced from $300,000 to $25,000 at ten percent, Fox News reported.
Footage of the wild brawl which broke out in the early hours of July 26 shocked the nation.
Six people were left severely injured after a large group descended on several people outside of a nightclub in downtown Cincinnati's business district.
A man in a white t-shirt was shoved to the ground and beaten by two men as other members of the crowd jeered and joined in.
The group beat the man for nearly a minute as he lay in the middle of the street, appearing to step on his head multiple times.
When the barrage of attacks temporarily stopped, the victim was seen attempting to stand - but immediately fell over in apparent disorientation.
A woman, identified as Holly, had attempted to break up the fight before she was knocked unconscious and fell to the floor.
Brutal images show Holly sustained a black eye and a swollen bruised face. But she claimed police 'acted nonchalant' when they arrived at the scene and did not call for backup or an ambulance.
Holly defended her actions that night, noting that she was the only person who decided to jump in to help the man because it was 'the right thing to do.'
So far, seven people have been charged in relation to the brutal beating.
Patrick Rosemond, 38, Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dominique Kittle, 37, have been charged with three counts of felonious assault, three counts of assault and two counts of aggravated rioting.
Rosemond, a convicted felon who is believed to have been the 'main instigator' in the incident, was said to have 'assaulted each and every single victim' in the beatdown, Fox News reported.
Hamilton County Common Pleas Court heard that he allegedly punched Holly and 'almost caused her death,' and was allegedly seen dancing and 'taunting' the victims.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was permitted release on a $500,000 bond.
Merriweather is also facing a federal gun charge for illegally owning a weapon as a felon, Fox News reported.
Matthews posted his $250,000 bond immediately following his arrest.
Gregory Wright, 32, was indicted on charges of aggravated riot and felony aggravated robbery for allegedly stealing the victim's necklace while others beat him.
'[He] did by force rip the necklace off the victim while he was being assaulted by four or more co-defendants attempting to cause serious physical harm,' the criminal complaint obtained by the outlet said.
The Cincinnati Police Department is on the hunt for an eight suspect in the brawl, and released a photo of the man asking for assistance in identifying him.
Police Chief Teresa Theetge said the incident was not connected to the jazz festival that was going on in Cincinnati that weekend. 'This was a sudden dispute between individuals following a verbal altercation,' she added.
'What I saw on video is not the Cincinnati I know and love,' Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said, Fox News reported.
'These charges hold those involved in the attack accountable.'
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy wrote on social media: 'I spoke to Holly earlier today (the woman tragically assaulted in Cincinnati this weekend). She's a single working mom who went to a friend's birthday party. It's unconscionable that there were no police present in that area of Cincinnati on a Friday night, or even an ambulance to take her to the hospital.'
Gregory Wright (left), 32, was arrested and charged with alleged aggravated riot and aggravated robbery. He allegedly stole the victim's necklace while others beat him
Patrick Rosemond (left) and Dominique Kittle (right) have been charged with three counts of felonious assault, three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting
Vice President JD Vance said the brawl was particularly offensive because a woman was 'sucker punched' by a 'grown man.'
'What I saw, and I haven't seen the full context, but what I saw is a mob of lawless thugs beating up on an innocent person.
'It's disgusting and I hope every single one of those people who engage in violence is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
'I don't know the full context, but the one part that I saw that was really gruesome is you had a grown man who sucker punched a middle-age woman,' he added, referencing the woman, Holly, who Ramaswamy spoke to.
'That person ought to go to jail for a very long time - and frankly, he's lucky there weren't some better people around because they would've handled it themselves.
'We have got to make great American cities safe again for families and children, the only way to destroy that street violence is to take the thugs who engage in that violence and throw their a**es in prison.'
