(NewsNation) – Two individuals have been taken into custody in connection with a violent fight that erupted in downtown Cincinnati and was captured on video.
According to local police, the arrested parties include a 24-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man, both charged with felonious assault and aggravated rioting.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge announced that additional suspects are being sought as the investigation continues. She emphasized that further charges are likely as news unfolds.
Hamilton County prosecutor, Connie Pillich, confirmed that she plans to pursue the maximum legal penalties against those involved. Authorities are urging any additional suspects to come forward voluntarily.
Multiple clips from the incident that went viral show a mob surrounding and attacking a man. In particularly disturbing footage, a woman appears to lose consciousness and strikes her head against the pavement during the melee that took place over the weekend.
Some critics have directed blame at police for their absence while large crowds gathered in downtown Cincinnati for several events. However, Theetge has pointed out that only one witness called 911 regarding the altercation.
She defended the police’s response, indicating they received a call at 3:06 a.m. and arrived six minutes later. Unfortunately, the chaos had already subsided by that time. She also voiced her frustrations about media coverage related to the incident.
“I want to address the role social media and journalism has played in this situation,” she asserted. “The posts circulating online don’t accurately depict the entire event; they only present one perspective of what happened.”
The public response has been quite critical. Vivek Ramaswamy, a candidate running for Ohio governor, expressed disbelief at the absence of police presence in a busy downtown area during a Friday night.
Ramaswamy also raised concerns about the lack of an ambulance to assist the woman who was knocked out cold.
Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance, is campaigning for mayor and attributed the violence to poor management. “We need to address the underlying issue here, which is mismanagement. It’s a situation of widespread incompetence that needs to be rectified,” he said.
One individual injured in the brawl, the woman who was knocked unconscious, is a single mother who was out in celebration of a friend’s birthday that night. Authorities report that she is recovering well.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, check out NewsNation.
