Cincinnati police investigating whether suspects in brutal mob assault were 'overserved' alcohol

Cincinnati Police Chief Terri Theetge said alcohol may have played a “significant part” in the violent mob assault outside a downtown nightclub that left a man and a woman seriously injured, and was captured in a video that quickly went viral.

“All potential charges are being investigated for everyone involved,” Theetge said. “All investigative tools and techniques are on the table, including, were some of these people overserved at some local establishments? It is clear to us that alcohol played a part, a significant part in this incident." 

One of the suspects, Montianez Merriweather, 34, was taken into custody Tuesday after viral footage a group viciously beating a man and a woman outside a nightclub. The victims were seriously injured, with the woman seen lying on the pavement unconscious, bleeding from her mouth.

Merriweather and 24-year-old Dekyra Vernon have been charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot. Merriweather was previously indicted on multiple charges, including receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm while under disability, and improper transportation of a firearm.

Theetge confirmed at a Monday press conference that five individuals have been charged so far, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The incident drew sharp criticism not just for the violence, but also for the crowd of bystanders seen cheering, filming, and applauding the attack rather than intervening. The assault also drew a response from Vice President JD Vance, former senator of Ohio.

“I haven’t seen the full context, but what I saw is a mob of lawless thugs beating up on an innocent person,” Vance said. “Where I come from at least, 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.”