FOLLOW US

Case Snapshot

• New arrest: Gregory Wright, 32, is now in custody on aggravated robbery and aggravated riot charges, booked Monday afternoon.
• Prosecutor’s update: Six others were indicted last week; each faces up to 5 years if convicted on all counts, per the Hamilton County Prosecutor.
• Federal scrutiny: The FBI says it is coordinating with Cincinnati Police; DOJ officials have acknowledged a federal review of the attack.

By Samuel Lopez – USA Herald

A seventh suspect has been arrested in the violent downtown Cincinnati attack that ricocheted across social media and spurred a national debate over public safety and justice. Court officials confirm Gregory Wright, 32, was taken into custody and charged with aggravated riot and aggravated robbery; jail records show he was booked around 4:30 p.m. Monday. https://www.fox19.com

What video and police reports allege

Cincinnati police say surveillance captured a suspect removing a gold chain from a victim’s neck while the man was being beaten on the ground. “The suspect then walks away from the location and places property in his pocket, then proceeds to film the rest of the events,” said Central Business District Commander Adam Hennie.

Body-worn camera released by police shows the chaotic aftermath of the July 26 incident and officers arriving on scene around 3:25 a.m. Local and national outlets reported that a single 911 call initially alerted authorities. One victim, known publicly as “Holly,” says she suffered severe head trauma.

City leaders denounced the violence. Mayor Aftab Pureval said he was “outraged” and called the attack “unacceptable and disgusting.” WLWT

Who’s charged so far

A Hamilton County grand jury has indicted six defendants on three counts of felonious assault, three counts of assault, and two counts of aggravated riot each. Prosecutor Connie Pillich said those charges could add up to nearly 30 years per defendant upon conviction. The office also highlighted Ohio’s aiding and abetting law as an underlying premise of the case.

Those six are: Aisha Devaughn, 26 (Evanston); Dominique Kittle, 37 (Walnut Hills); Jermaine Matthews, 39 (East Price Hill); Montianez Merriweather, 34 (South Cumminsville); Patrick Rosemond, 38 (Reading); and Dekyra Vernon, 24 (Evanston). https://www.fox19.com

Bond outcomes so far illustrate the case’s seriousness: for example, Aisha Devaughn’s bond was set at $300,000 total, and Jermaine Matthews’ cumulative bond reached $270,000 with conditions including electronic monitoring.