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Police looking for five suspects charged in viral Cincinnati brawl Two charged with assault in connection with viral Cincinnati brawl
(about 20 hours later)
Police are searching for five people charged in connection with a brawl in Cincinnati after footage of the incident went viral and prompted reaction by US Vice-President JD Vance and Elon Musk. Montianez Merriweather (L) and Dekyra Vernon, shown here in mugshots released by police, were charged with felonious assault
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge did not release names or the details of the charges, and said during a news conference Monday that police were on the lookout for the suspects. Two people have been arrested in connection with a brawl in Cincinnati after footage of the incident went viral.
"Anyone who put their hands on another individual during this incident in an attempt to cause harm will face consequences," Theetge told reporters. Police in the US city earlier said they were searching for a total of five people in connection with the fight, which sparked reaction by Vice-President JD Vance, Elon Musk and others.
The melee happened just after 03:00 local time Saturday, Theetge said, and footage went viral after being posted online, including to a local crime-focused Facebook page. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said during a public meeting on Tuesday that Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dekyra Vernon, 24, had been arrested.
Court records indicate they have been charged with felonious assault, which carries a sentence of two to eight years in prison.
The melee broke out just after 03:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Saturday, Theetge said, and footage went viral after being posted online, including to a local crime-focused Facebook page.
Theetge also said a third person was in the process of being arrested late Tuesday, but she did not disclose a name or charges.
Merriweather was indicted earlier in July on weapons charges and a count of receiving stolen property, but was released on bail after paying 10% of a $4,000 (£3,000) bond.
Police union officials criticised the judge in the previous case. Ken Kober, president of the city's Fraternal Order of Police lodge, told the Cincinnati Enquirer that Merriweather "never should have been out".
Cincinnati is a city of about 300,000 people in south-west OhioCincinnati is a city of about 300,000 people in south-west Ohio
It's unclear what triggered the brawl or happened before or after people started recording the incident with their phones. It is unclear what triggered the brawl early on Saturday, or what happened before or after people started recording the incident with their phones.
One video showed two men square off, with bystanders variously filming, watching and attempting to intervene, before a vicious fight broke out. One of the men was surrounded by others who began beating him in the middle of a downtown street.One video showed two men square off, with bystanders variously filming, watching and attempting to intervene, before a vicious fight broke out. One of the men was surrounded by others who began beating him in the middle of a downtown street.
Other scuffles broke out and a man was seen punching a woman until she lost consciousness.Other scuffles broke out and a man was seen punching a woman until she lost consciousness.
Theetge said that out of the roughly 100 people in the area at the time only one called police and that alcohol consumption played a part. At a news conference Monday, Theetge said that out of the roughly 100 people in the area at the time, only one called police and that alcohol consumption played a part.
"They were fighting in front of traffic. Why didn't somebody [else] call us?" the police chief said."They were fighting in front of traffic. Why didn't somebody [else] call us?" the police chief said.
Vice-President Vance told a crowd in Canton, Ohio on Monday that the incident was "disgusting".Vice-President Vance told a crowd in Canton, Ohio on Monday that the incident was "disgusting".
'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," he said.'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," he said.
"I hope every single one of those people who engage in violence is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.""I hope every single one of those people who engage in violence is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Vance grew up nearby and his half-brother Cory Bowman is running for mayor of Cincinnati. Bowman criticised city officials and called the video a "wake-up call". Vance grew up nearby, and his half-brother Cory Bowman is running for mayor of Cincinnati. Bowman criticised city officials and called the video a "wake-up call".
Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican Party presidential candidate who also grew up in the area and is running for Ohio governor, criticised the response and accused "leftists" of being soft on crime.Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican Party presidential candidate who also grew up in the area and is running for Ohio governor, criticised the response and accused "leftists" of being soft on crime.
Chief Theetge said traffic was heavy in the area because of several events late Friday, but officers were on the scene six minutes after the call. By that time, the assailants had scattered.Chief Theetge said traffic was heavy in the area because of several events late Friday, but officers were on the scene six minutes after the call. By that time, the assailants had scattered.
The virality of the video was also propelled by people suggesting that race was a motivation for the fighting and that the story allegedly did not receive media attention because several assailants were black.The virality of the video was also propelled by people suggesting that race was a motivation for the fighting and that the story allegedly did not receive media attention because several assailants were black.
An unnamed witness told local news station WXIX the confrontation began 15 minutes before the video's start and a group was overheard making "racial comments". An unnamed witness told local news station WXIX the confrontation began 15 minutes before the video's start, and a group was overheard making "racial comments".
One man in the initial confrontation shown on the video was white while several others were black, and the white man was later beaten by a group of what appeared to be mostly black men after the serious violence began.One man in the initial confrontation shown on the video was white while several others were black, and the white man was later beaten by a group of what appeared to be mostly black men after the serious violence began.
The woman who was punched appeared to be white and struck by a younger black man.The woman who was punched appeared to be white and struck by a younger black man.
Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, posted: "Nobody in our great nation should be the victim of such a crime, and where race is a motivation, federal law may apply."Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, posted: "Nobody in our great nation should be the victim of such a crime, and where race is a motivation, federal law may apply."
Videos, though, also showed black men trying to help quell the violence.Videos, though, also showed black men trying to help quell the violence.
Signal 99, the Facebook account that first brought some of the footage to light, posted that "these are not blacks targeting whites, simply for being white".Signal 99, the Facebook account that first brought some of the footage to light, posted that "these are not blacks targeting whites, simply for being white".
"We saw several black men attempt to intervene last night, knowing they could be jumped next by the mob. So please stop with the racist commentary," the post also read."We saw several black men attempt to intervene last night, knowing they could be jumped next by the mob. So please stop with the racist commentary," the post also read.
The uncertainty around the event did not stop several popular right-wing accounts from speculating about its cause.The uncertainty around the event did not stop several popular right-wing accounts from speculating about its cause.
"HORRIFIC: White couple brutally beat by black mob in Cincinnati," wrote the Libs of TikTok account on X. "You probably won't see this story in the MSM [mainstream media].""HORRIFIC: White couple brutally beat by black mob in Cincinnati," wrote the Libs of TikTok account on X. "You probably won't see this story in the MSM [mainstream media]."
Elon Musk replied to that message and to another tweet, writing "Why zero stories?", despite coverage in a number of local and national news outlets.Elon Musk replied to that message and to another tweet, writing "Why zero stories?", despite coverage in a number of local and national news outlets.
The BBC contacted Musk, Libs of Tiktok and Signal 99. The BBC has contacted Musk, Libs of Tiktok and Signal 99 for comment.