The Cincinnati community continues to deal with the aftermath of a downtown melee as police have now made a seventh arrest related to the incident. Gregory Wright, 32, was arrested and faces charges of aggravated riot and aggravated robbery, according to Local 12. The brawl, which took place early July 2 at Fourth and Elm streets, received widespread attention after videos of the violence went viral.
Wright, of Avondale, is accused of forcibly stealing a necklace from a victim while the victim was being assaulted by four or more individuals, attempting to cause serious physical harm. After the alleged robbery, Wright is said to have recorded the rest of the altercation, a detail shared by FOX19. The victim, beaten on the ground during the melee, suffered from the additional insult of having the crime against them documented by one of the involved, per police reports.
The six other people indicted in connection with the fight face a myriad of charges, including aggravated riot and felonious assault. If convicted on all charges, they could be looking at significant prison sentences. The individuals include Aisha Devaughn, 26, of Evanston; Dominique Kittle, 37, of Walnut Hills; Jermaine Matthews, 39, of East Price Hill; Montianez Merriweather, 34, of South Cumminsville; Patrick Rosemond, 38, of Reading; and Dekyra Vernon, 24, of Evanston. They were indicted last week, and the case is being overseen by Judge Robert Goering in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, noted FOX19.
According to WLWT, Cincinnati police stated that surveillance video shows Wright taking the gold chain off one of the victims during the brawl. The incident had escalated from a verbal altercation to a physical confrontation, which unfolded on West Fourth and Elm streets. Thus far, five suspects tied to the brawl have appeared in court. The suspects have been identified as Aisha Devaughn, 25; Jermaine Matthews, 39; Montianez Merriweather, 34; Dekyra Vernon, 24, and Dominique Kittle, 37. Each is contending with the legal ramifications that follow such alleged acts of public violence.
