A brutal assault caught on video in Cincinnati’s heart has ignited a firestorm, exposing deep cracks in the city’s approach to crime.
Fox News reported that on July 26, 2025, a viral clip showed a vicious attack in downtown Cincinnati, followed by two deadly shootings in the Over-the-Rhine district that same week, fueling public outrage and demands for accountability.
Mayor Aftab Pureval, under pressure, held a news conference on August 1, vowing to bring the culprits to justice. Yet, his response has drawn sharp criticism for failing to address systemic issues like understaffed policing and lenient bail practices.
Only 11 officers patrolled downtown the night of the assault, a number critics argue is woefully inadequate for a city grappling with 15,000 reported offenses in 2025.
Crime rates, while down slightly from August 2023, have spiked during summer months, suggesting a persistent challenge. The city’s budget allocates 64% to public safety, but slow hiring processes have left police ranks thin.
The assault video, raw and unfiltered, shocked viewers nationwide, amplifying calls for tougher crime policies. “What I saw on video is not the Cincinnati I know,” said Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich, promising accountability. Her words ring hollow when bail policies allow suspects like Jermaine Matthews to walk free before trial.
Six individuals—Patrick Rosemond, 38; Jermaine Matthews, 39; Montianez Merriweather, 34; DeKyra Vernon, 24; Dominique Kittle, 37; and Aisha Devaughn, 25—face serious charges.
Each is accused of three counts of felonious assault, three counts of assault, and two counts of aggravated rioting, as confirmed by the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. Yet, the “catch-and-release” system, as critics call it, undermines these efforts.
Mayoral candidate Cory Bowman, speaking at a town hall on August 4, blasted City Hall’s approach. “Police are not supported the way they need to be,” he told Fox News Digital, pointing to restrictive policies that hinder law enforcement. His critique cuts deep: officers feel arrests are futile when criminals are back on the streets the next day.
Holly, a victim of the assault, shared her trauma on The Ingraham Angle, calling the attack “attempted murder.” She noted the Cincinnati Police Department never took her statement, a glaring oversight. Worse, neither the mayor’s office nor the police responded to Fox News Digital’s repeated requests for comment.
“It seemed like a beat down,” Holly told Laura Ingraham, her voice trembling with frustration. She criticized city leaders for letting “thugs and criminals run the streets” when they should be locked up. Her words underscore a broader distrust in a system that seems to prioritize leniency over justice.
Mayor Pureval’s response has been less than reassuring, especially after he jetted off for a family vacation post-assault.
“There is no place for violent crime in Cincinnati,” he declared, vowing to pursue those responsible. But his absence during a crisis and the city’s sluggish response suggest a disconnect between rhetoric and reality.
Bowman argues the city’s progressive policies have drained resources from police. “Initiatives stacked on top of each other” siphon funds, he said, urging a return to robust patrols and recruitment. His call for state and federal help signals a city stretched thin, unable to curb its crime surge alone.
The police department’s lateral hiring process, bogged down by months of red tape, exacerbates the staffing shortage.
Officers, Bowman notes, feel demoralized, told to “dial back” enforcement while judges and prosecutors release offenders swiftly. This cycle of restraint and release fuels a sense of lawlessness downtown.
“So many officers have come to me,” Bowman said, highlighting their frustration with a system that renders arrests meaningless. He advocates for empowering police to act decisively, backed by City Hall. Without this shift, preventable crimes will continue to scar Cincinnati’s streets.
Cincinnati’s crime stats—15,000 offenses in 2025—paint a grim picture, despite being on par with 2024.
The summer spike, coupled with high-profile violence, has eroded public confidence. Residents wonder why a city spending heavily on public safety still feels unsafe.
Pureval’s promise to hold assailants accountable sounds resolute, but actions speak louder. His administration’s failure to engage with victims like Holly or address police understaffing raises questions about priorities. A mayor on vacation while the city reels from violence doesn’t inspire trust.
