On Saturday evening, July 26, 2025, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge issued a powerful statement expressing her outrage and condemnation after a disturbing viral video surfaced, depicting a violent street brawl in downtown Cincinnati at the intersection of Fourth and Elm streets.
The nearly two-and-a-half-minute video, widely shared across social media platforms, captures a chaotic and brutal fight involving dozens of individuals. The footage shows a man being chased into the street, where he is viciously kicked and stomped by multiple assailants. Bystanders eventually assist him to his feet, but he collapses again shortly after, visibly injured with a bloodied nose and facial scrapes. Later in the video, another violent incident unfolds: a woman strikes another woman in the back of the head. As the victim attempts to back away, a man delivers a direct punch to her face, causing her to collapse, seemingly unconscious, with blood streaming from her mouth. The video concludes as bystanders rush to aid the woman, who begins to regain consciousness.
Chief Theetge expressed profound dismay in her statement: “I am in complete disgust waking up to the viral video many of you have now seen. The behavior displayed is nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable. Our investigative team is working diligently to identify every individual involved in causing harm.”
Theetge clarified that the brawl stemmed from a sudden dispute following a verbal altercation and was not connected to the Cincinnati Music Festival, which drew thousands to the downtown area over the weekend. A Cincinnati Police Department spokesperson revealed that authorities were unaware of the incident until the video gained traction online.
The Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober echoed Theetge’s sentiments, calling the violence “disgusting” and criticizing bystanders who recorded the incident instead of intervening or calling 911. Cincinnati City Council member Mark Jeffreys also condemned the event, stating, “This incident is horrible. It is inhumane. This does not and cannot represent who we are as a city.”
Chief Theetge urged anyone with information about the altercation to contact Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040, emphasizing the need for community assistance in holding those responsible accountable. The Cincinnati Police Department continues its investigation, with no arrests or hospitalizations reported as of July 27, 2025.