Short Vine Pizza Beatdown Puts Corryville Nightlife On Edge

A late-night pizza run on Short Vine turned into a brutal group beating that is now rippling through Corryville's bar-and-club strip, with three defendants learning their fate in court while two others brace for trial.

The case stems from a Sept. 13, 2025 attack that left three people with serious head and facial injuries, including a broken jaw and a concussion. Prosecutors say the violence has cast an unwelcome spotlight on Short Vine, the busy nightlife corridor that sits next to the University of Cincinnati.

According to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, the assault began shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 13 in the 2700 block of Short Vine Street, after three people stopped to pick up pizza. A group approached, and one victim was hit from behind before others allegedly piled on. Prosecutors estimate between eight and twelve people took part, and say the victims suffered injuries ranging from broken jaws to concussions and other facial trauma, per Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office.

Court records and local coverage identify six defendants in the case: Kenneth Bolin, Austin Smith, Joshua Ansteatt, Hayley Hornsby, Deontae Conyers and Brayden Hall. They face charges including felonious assault and aggravated rioting, with judges setting bonds from the high tens of thousands into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to WCPO.

Three of those defendants, Deontae Conyers, Austin Smith and Brayden Hall, have already admitted involvement and entered guilty pleas. They were set to be sentenced Thursday. Hall’s attorneys argued for the minimum, telling the court the 19-year-old is a devoted father who has quit drinking, while two co-defendants prepare for bench trials, according to WLWT.

Court filings summarized by local outlets describe some of the most violent details of the beating, including an allegation that one suspect "pistol-whipped" a victim who was already unconscious. Investigators also reported finding a loaded Glock in a vehicle registered to Conyers after reviewing surveillance video and sworn affidavits, per FOX19.

Legal context

The charges are not minor bar-fight citations. Felonious assault and aggravated riot counts can bring years behind bars if the defendants are convicted. According to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, felony convictions tied to the Short Vine attack could mean sentences of up to 17.5 years in prison, while related misdemeanor assault charges carry as much as 180 days in jail. Prosecutors have said they intend to hold everyone involved accountable, per Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office.

What to watch at court

With three defendants having pleaded guilty, Thursday’s hearings were expected to set the tone for how the court views the case and the future bench trials. Local coverage notes that prosecutors have video of the attack that has not yet been shown in open court. Observers will be watching to see whether the judge opts to review that footage and how the court weighs arguments about alcohol use and positive character statements against the severity of the victims’ injuries, according to WLWT.