Alleged aggressors in the viral Cincinnati brawl launched their attack before racial slurs were uttered, a court was told.

Five of the seven suspects charged in the violent attack appeared in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Thursday morning to be arraigned on additional charges. 

During the hearing, Prosecutor Kip Guinan revealed that the ‘n-word’ was not said until nearly two minutes after the July 26 assault began, Fox News reports.

Guinan’s claim is in direct conflict with defense’s allegation that the various fights that broke out in downtown were ‘triggered by racial slurs’.

The prosecutor also said the state has obtained two additional videos from nearby cameras offering new perspectives of the beatdown. Guinan noted the footage has not yet been made public.

Dominique Kittle, DeKyra Vernon, Patrick Rosemond, Jermaine Matthews, Aisha Devaughn, Gregory Wright and Montianez Merriweather have all been arrested in connection with the brawl.

They are facing various charges, including aggravated riot and felonious assault. If convicted they could face up to 30 years in prison.

Each defendant has pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. 

Dominique Kittle, 37, appeared before the Hamilton County Common Pleas Courtroom for his arraignment Thursday (pictured) during which the prosecution branded him ‘a grave danger to the public’

Jermaine Matthews, who the prosecutors claims was the ‘leader’ of the beatdown and a primary instigator, also appeared before the court on Thursday (pictured)

Dekyra Vernon, 24, appeared before Municipal Court Judge Michael Peck during her arraignment on July 30 (pictured). Her bond was lowered from from $200,000 to $25,000 during Thursday’s hearing

Montianez Merriweather, 34, is accused of being the ‘catalyst’ in the July 26 beating in downtown that left six people injured.

He was initially charged with aggravated assault over the brawl, but was later indicted by a grand jury with illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

He appeared in court Thursday where a judge determined his bond would remain at $500,000.

Jermaine Matthews, who Guinan branded the ‘leader’ of the beatdown and a primary instigator, also appeared before the court.

His attorney argued Matthews, 39, had been ‘slapped’ by a white man when the fight erupted. The prosecution, however, claims Matthews ‘is the man who started it’.

Matthews was released on bail shortly after the attack. The judge on Thursday granted him the same bond amount and permitted him to work.

Aisha Devaughn, who is accused of punching a woman identified only as Holly in the face, saw her bond dropped from $300,000 to $25,000 at the hearing. 

Aisha Devaughn, who is accused of punching a woman identified only as Holly in the face, saw her bond dropped from $300,000 to $25,000 at Thursday’s arraignment (pictured)

Montianez Merriweather, 34, enters Hamiliton County Common Pleas Courtroom for his arraignment on Thursday. Merriweather is accused of being the ‘catalyst’ in the July 26 beating in downtown that left six people injured

After his arrest, two relatives of Merriweather (pictured) told WLWT that the race of the victims had catapulted the case to national attention

Vernon’s attorney Clyde Bennett claims the case against her was fueled by race and politics. But the prosecution dismissed the allegation as ‘offensive’ 

Devaughn, 25, is said to have ‘inserted herself’ into the fight and was not initially provoked, Guinan told the court. 

Matthews reportedly vowed he was going to ‘go get her’ as he left the courtroom after Devaughn’s bond was lowered, Fox reported.

The judge also lowered Dekyra Vernon’s bond from $200,000 to $25,000 and ordered that she stay away from the downtown area.

Her attorney Clyde Bennett claims the case against Vernon, 24, was fueled by race and politics. But the prosecution dismissed the allegation as ‘offensive’.

Dominique Kittle, 37, was also arraigned Thursday with Guinan branding him ‘a grave danger to the public’.

Kittle’s attorney told the court he is a paranoid schizophrenic and was previously found not guilty on separate charges by ‘reason of insanity’.

He was ordered to remain in custody pending a mental health evaluation. His bond amount remains unchanged. 

Matthews, Merriweather, Vernon, Devaughn and Kittle have all been charged with three counts of alleged felonious assault, three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting. 

Montianez Merriweather was initially charged with aggravated assault over the brawl, but was later indicted by a grand jury with illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. He appeared in court Thursday (pictured) where a judge determined his bond would remain at $500,000

Aisha Devaughn, 25, enters Hamilton County Common Pleas Courtroom for her arraignment on Thursday, August 14, 2025

Patrick Rosemond, 38, also faces the same charges, but was not in court Thursday.

Rosemond was arrested in Georgia last week and is awaiting extradition to Ohio. Officials say he could appear before the court as early as Friday.

Gregory Wright, 32, was arrested earlier this week and charged with alleged aggravated riot and aggravated robbery.

He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Tuesday and his bond was set at $100,000.

The now-viral brawl sparked massive outrage after horror images emerged of a female victim with black eyes and a swollen, bruised face.

In shocking footage of the fight, a man in a white t-shirt was shoved to the ground and beaten by two men as other members of the crowd jeered and joined in.

The gang beat the man for nearly a minute as he lay in the middle of the street, seemingly stepping on his head multiple times. 

Patrick Rosemond, 38, left, was arrested in Georgia in connection to the violent attack. Aisha Devaughn, right, allegedly hit one of the victims, prosecutors said

Jermaine Matthews, left, and Dominique Kittle are both facing charges in connection with the brawl

Dekyra Vernon, left, and Montianez Merriweather,right, were also taken into custody in connection with the melee

Gregory Wright, 32, was arrested earlier this week and charged with alleged aggravated riot and aggravated robbery. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Tuesday and his bond was set at $100,000 

When the barrage of attacks temporarily stopped, he was seen attempting to stand – but immediately fell over in apparent disorientation. 

A woman in a black dress rushed to his aid, but was attacked by the crowd, suffering two blows to the face.

The impact caused her to fall, with her head slamming onto the pavement. Blood spewed from her mouth.

The woman, identified only as Holly, said that police ‘acted nonchalant’ when they arrived at the scene and did not call for backup or an ambulance.

She defended her actions that night, noting that she was the only person who decided to jump in to help the man because it was ‘the right thing to do.’ 

After his arrest, two relatives of Merriweather told WLWT that the race of the victims had catapulted the case to national attention.

‘If it was an African American woman who got knocked out… We wouldn’t have been going through all this,’ one of the women said.

A new angle of what happened prior to the brawl shows an unidentified black man being slapped by the unknown white man

The woman involved in the brawl, known only as Holly, is seen here on the ground following the horrific attack  

Both sides of Holly’s face were extremely bruised following the assault, with her right eye a dark shade of purple and almost closed over due to the swelling

Another woman, believed to be Merriweather’s mother Clarissa, said her son is an honor roll student with ‘a biracial child’ as she denied he was racist.

‘He’s not a racist,’ she said. ‘It wasn’t like they’re thugs… these Russians was walking down the street and on the video he said “you wanna mess with these Russians?”‘

‘He smacked the first guy… my child is in school, he has five kids, he’s on the B honor roll in school.’

Police have described Merriweather as the ‘catalyst’ for the alleged ‘coordinated attack.’