Two people have been arrested in the vicious mob beating of a white man and woman in downtown Cincinnati early Saturday morning in a case that has drawn national attention after video of the attack went viral, with the FBI being ordered to investigate by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Montianez Merriweather, 34, who was out on bail for a July 10 indictment on multiple charges, and Dekyra Vernon 24, have each been charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot according to Cincinnati police. Three others have been charged, with one expected to be arrested Tuesday night, according to Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge at a community meeting Tuesday evening.
The charges were reported by WLWT-TV reporter Rachel Hirschheimer:
According to Cincinnati Police, 34-year-old Montianez Merriweather and 24-year-old Dekyra Vernon have been charged with Felonious Assault and Aggravated Riot
— Rachel Hirschheimer (@rhirschheimer) July 29, 2025
The viral video was originally posted on Saturday by Cory Bowman, half-brother of Vice President J.D. Vance and Republican candidate for Cincinnati mayor.
Post Millennial posting of the video on X:
A violent mob in Cincinnati left a man and woman beaten unconscious
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 27, 2025
Viral screen images showed a man on the ground being attacked by a mob and an unconscious woman with blood streaming from her mouth:
A white couple was brutaIIy beaten at a jazz festival by a black "teen mob" in Cincinnati yesterday.
0 national coverage. pic.twitter.com/IgPnVYwbme
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 27, 2025
WXIX-TV reported Merriweather was out on bond from a previous arrest(excerpt):
Merriweather was out on bond at the time, according to a Facebook post from Cincinnati FOP Queen City Lodge No. 69.
The FOP’s post said Merriweather was indicted on July 10 for receiving stolen property, weapons under disability, improper transportation of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.
Judge William Mallory, according to the FOP, gave Merriweather a $4,000 bond at 10% – meaning he only had to pay $400 to post bond.
WLWT-TV reported on the arrests and on a community meeting Tuesday night:
