Cincy Weekend Brawl Covered by Local Media

On July 26, 2025, a viral video surfaced on Facebook showing a multi-person fight in Downtown Cincinnati, catching the attention of city officials and law enforcement. The post claims the incident occurred at Fourth and Elm streets on the night of Friday, July 25, during the Cincinnati Music Festival, which drew thousands to the area.

The Cincy Enquirer reports Cory Bowman, a mayoral candidate and JD Vance’s half-brother, reposted the video, criticizing the current administration’s handling of crime. 

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge issued a statement at 6 p.m. on July 26, expressing outrage: "I am utterly disgusted by the viral video circulating. The behavior is cruel and wholly unacceptable. Our investigators are working to identify all individuals involved in this violence."Theetge clarified that the fight was unrelated to the Cincinnati Music Festival, describing it as a spontaneous conflict sparked by a verbal dispute. As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, Cincinnati police spokesman Jonathan Cunningham reported that the investigation remains ongoing, with no updates on arrests or hospitalizations.

Several Cincinnati news outlets have covered the downtown brawl: The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on the incident, noting the viral video and its context amid crime debates, with comments from police and a mayoral candidate.

• WCPO 9 News covered the story, with Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge describing the brawl as “nothing short of cruel.”
• FOX19 (WXIX) reported on the police investigation, including statements from the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police and City Council member Mark Jeffreys.
• Local 12 (WKRC-TV) published details about the investigation, highlighting the violent nature of the fight captured in the viral video.
• WLWT News 5 reported on the Cincinnati Police Department’s investigation, noting at least two injuries from the assault.
• WLW Radio: Notably coverage of the brawl is missing from the iHM website as of Sunday Afternoon. However, the station posted several social media accounts on X

Thus, at least five Cincinnati news outlets—The Cincinnati Enquirer, WCPO 9 News, FOX19, Local 12, and WLWT News 5—have covered the brawl. Other local outlets, such as CityBeat, Spectrum News 1, or WVXU, did not have specific coverage of this incident based on the provided information, though they reported on other local news during the same period.