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CINCINNATI – The FBI and Department of Justice are currently conducting a federal investigation into the violent beating incident that occurred in downtown Cincinnati last weekend, which gained widespread attention online.
According to a statement from the FBI, they are closely working with the Cincinnati Police Department regarding this matter.
A DOJ official also confirmed the ongoing federal investigation into the incident.
A fight broke out on Friday night in Downtown Cincinnati, leaving several people injured. (X/@Anthea06274890)
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon hinted at the possibility of federal hate crime charges in connection to the incident.
“Our federal hate crimes laws apply to ALL Americans. We at the DOJ Civil Rights Division will closely monitor how local authorities handle this attack,” she stated regarding the beatings. “Nobody in our nation should be a victim of such a crime, and federal law may apply in cases where race is a motivating factor.”
Senator Bernie Moreno also expressed his concerns and called for a federal investigation into the matter.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice are investigating the viral Cincinnati assault. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Attorney General Pam Bondi acknowledged Moreno’s efforts in connecting the DOJ with one of the victims and praised him for his commitment to the case.
The incident took place at the corner of Fourth and Elm Street in Cincinnati’s downtown area during the early hours of Saturday. Video footage of the altercation, which shows a group of individuals brutally assaulting two others, has circulated widely online, with one woman knocked unconscious in the street.
The corner of Fourth and Elm Street outside LoVe, a local nightclub, where the beating took place, as seen on July 28, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Peter D’Abrosca/Fox News Digital)
As of Wednesday morning, three individuals have been arrested and are in custody, while two others have been charged but not yet apprehended.
Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dekyra Vernon, 24, were arrested on Tuesday night and face charges including felonious assault, aggravated riot, and assault. Merriweather is being held on a $500,000 bond, while Vernon’s bond is set at $200,000.
Another suspect, Jermaine Matthews, was taken into custody overnight and charged with aggravated riot and assault, with a bond set at $100,000.
Cincinnati Chief of Police Teresa Theetge condemned the attack during a public safety meeting on Tuesday night.
Cincinnati Chief of Police Teresa Theetge announces the arrests of two people who were allegedly involved in a fight over the weekend that gained national attention. (Fox News Digital)
Theetge emphasized the severity of the incident and expressed her disappointment in seeing Cincinnati portrayed negatively in the national news.
The Cincinnati Police Department did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday morning.
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Contributed by Greg Wehner.
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