A fourth person has been arrested in connection with a violent attack on two people at Cincinnati’s jazz festival, as new video evidence emerges showing racial slurs being shouted during the incident.
Dominique Kittle, 37, was charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot following the 26 July attack that left a Russian woman known as “Holly” and another person severely injured. Three others – Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dekyra Vernon, 24 – were previously arrested and charged in connection with the brawl. Two additional unnamed suspects have been charged but remain at large.
The group has been accused of carrying out what police described as a “coordinated ambush” on six people, sparking a bitter race row that has drawn intervention from America’s Vice President JD Vance and the Department of Justice. The incident occurred in the early hours of 26 July near the intersection of West Fourth Street and Elm Street, where thousands had gathered for multiple events including the Cincinnati Music Festival, a Big3 basketball tournament and a Cincinnati Reds game.
Vice President Demands Action
JD Vance, speaking to steelworkers in Canton, Ohio, condemned the violence and vowed to “make great American cities safe again” after footage of the brutal attack went viral. The Vice President did not mince words about the assault, particularly the attack on the female victim.
“I haven’t seen the full context, but what I saw was a mob of lawless thugs beating up on an innocent person and it’s disgusting,” Vance said. “When you have a grown man who sucker-punches a middle-aged woman, that person ought to go to jail for a very long time.”
The former Ohio Senator added: “Frankly, he’s lucky there weren’t some better people around because they would have handled it themselves. We have got to make great American cities safe again for families and children.”
Federal Investigation Launched
The US Department of Justice has confirmed federal involvement in the case, with Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stating her office will monitor how local authorities handle the attack. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the FBI had launched an investigation after being contacted by Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).
Our federal hate crimes laws apply to ALL Americans,” Dhillon posted on social media platform X. Nobody in our great nation should be the victim of such a crime, and where race is a motivation, federal law may apply.
The federal investigation comes as questions mount about whether the attack was racially motivated, with multiple officials suggesting hate crime charges could be forthcoming.
Shocking New Evidence Emerges
As the investigation deepens, shocking new claims have emerged about the incident. Attorney Brandon Fox, representing 39-year-old Matthews, told The Enquirer that new video evidence shows one of the victims hurling racial slurs before the violence erupted.
“It was not a Black, racist mob attacking people,” Fox stated. “These were separate fights that were triggered by racial slurs that ultimately poured gasoline on the fire.”
One video appears to show a victim shouting “Get that little n****r,” though the full context of when this occurred in relation to the violence remains unclear. Police have not confirmed these details as part of their official investigation.
Council Member’s Controversial Comments
The controversy intensified when Cincinnati City Council President Pro Tem Victoria Parks, 67, posted on Facebook that the victims “begged for that beatdown,” adding she was “grateful for the whole story.”
Parks’ comments sparked immediate backlash, with Ohio Congressman Phil Plummer demanding her resignation. “Defending violent criminals who viciously beat innocent people is disgusting,” Plummer said. “Her words, ‘They begged for that beat down’, are outrageous. Prosecutors must charge the attackers with a hate crime.”
When contacted by local media, Parks stood by her statement, claiming she has “freedom of speech” and refusing to apologise. She later elaborated that “when a black person is hit by a white person, generations of frustration, pain and terror is released,” though she claimed not to condone the beatings.
Victim’s Injuries and Identity
Photos released by Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno show Holly, identified as a Russian woman and single mother, with severe facial bruising and swelling around her eye. According to gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who spoke with the victim, Holly was “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,” Ramaswamy stated, adding that no local or state officials had contacted Holly except for one police detective.
Reports indicate Holly spent several days in hospital being treated for severe concussion and other injuries before returning to Russia. A fundraising campaign for her recovery has reportedly raised over $105,000 (£79,000).
Police Response Under Scrutiny
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge condemned the violence, stating: “What we all witnessed in the viral video early Saturday morning was not only disturbing, but outright cruel. It was an act of violence that shook us all.”
The chief confirmed five people had been charged as of Monday, with more arrests anticipated. She emphasised that “anyone who put their hands on another individual during this incident in an attempt to cause harm will face consequences,” regardless of which side they were on.
Police reported that only one person called 911 during the incident, with officers arriving six minutes after the initial call at 3:06am. By then, most participants had dispersed. Two victims went to hospital the following day with non-life-threatening injuries and were treated and released.
Wider Political Implications
The incident has become a flashpoint in Ohio politics, with mayoral candidate Cory Bowman using it to criticise incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval’s handling of public safety. Pureval waited over two days before issuing a statement condemning the violence.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk also weighed in on X, posting “That guy almost killed this woman. Aggravated assault” under a video of the incident.
Authorities have hinted they could release additional footage, including body-worn police camera video, by next week as the investigation continues. The case has reignited debates about urban violence, racial tensions and the handling of hate crimes in American cities.
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