As the investigation into a viral beating in Cincinnati that shook the nation and has been described as “a racial issue” continues, a victim and multiple suspects are facing criminal charges. 

In the early morning hours of July 26, a confrontation outside the LoVe nightclub, located on the corner of Fourth and Elm Street in the city’s downtown business district, led to a horrific beatdown that was captured on video. 

The video circulated rapidly on social media, sparking fury as at least two White victims were pummeled into the ground by a group of Black suspects. Once on the ground, the suspects did not back off. Instead, they continued to stomp on the victims, one of whom was left with a life-altering brain issue. 

Mayor Aftab Pureval speaks at a press conference about early Saturday morning’s viral beatdown in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Fox News Digital)

“What this has done, it has made Alex a victim now for the second time by bringing criminal charges against him,” Brannon told Fox News Digital. “What actually occurred is Alex was hit multiple times, before he slapped back in an attempt to try and defend himself and back off this group of thugs.” 

Exclusive photos obtained by Fox News Channel show Alex Tchervinski’s injuries from the viral beatdown in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 26, 2025. Tchervinski, who is considered a victim in the case, has been charged with disorderly conduct for his alleged role in the fight.  (Fox News Channel)

Tchervinski’s arrest has become a point of contention between the police and the mayor’s office. 

When the FOP voted no-confidence in Pureval earlier this week, they said Aftab also ordered the city solicitor to charge a White victim of the brutal beatdown with a crime “solely to appease racial tensions at the urging of a few community leaders.” 

One of those community leaders, Reverend Damon Lynch, demanded that the victims be arrested at a press conference with Aftab in the week following the attack.

“For those who want to racialize it, then a black man stepped in between the combatants, separated them and said, ‘this is about stop fighting, everybody needs to chill,'” said Lynch, who is Black. “And then, for those who want to racialize it, the white man being steps back in the ring and slaps not the black man that he had just squared up with, but slaps another black man. So after that he was met with disproportionate force.” 

“But when I see the mugshots, I only see people who look like me,” he said. “I don’t see the person who re-engaged. And so until we see all the mugshots, this is still a racial issue.”

Aftab agreed. 

“I agree with Pastor Lynch, that there is no doubt that this public safety challenge, that this incident will require further investigation, further charges and further arrests for every single person involved,” he said. 

It still remains unclear what exactly sparked the beatings, but the investigation remains ongoing. Police are currently searching for at least one more suspect. 

Fox News’ Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.