CINCINNATI – Business owners near the site of a viral weekend beatdown in downtown Cincinnati scorned the suspects in the “extremely out-of-control” assault that has captured nationwide attention.
The early Saturday morning melee on the corner of Fourth Street and Elm Street, which caused a national outcry after being circulated on social media, took place outside a popular nightclub called LoVe and the late-night restaurant next door.
In the video, a mob viciously assaulted two people, including a woman who was knocked out cold while bystanders filmed instead of intervening.
Kris Koch owns Koch Sporting Goods on Fourth Street, across the street from the club. His family business has been there since 1888.
Koch’s Sporting Goods and Main Auction Galleries, across the street from the nightclub, as seen on July 28, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Peter D’Abrosca/Fox News Digital)
“You can bring your family down and walk all around downtown and know that nothing’s going to happen to you.”
Justin Karp owns Main Auction Galleries, next door to Koch’s store. His family has owned that business for 150 years, 80 of which have been spent at the location on Fourth Street.
He denounced the assault, saying violence is never the answer.
“I don’t know how it started, but I do know that there was a big fight,” he said. “A couple of people were severely outnumbered, and people would rather, I guess, film than help. Is that really the best solution?”
A woman was punched on Friday night in Cincinnati. (X/@Anthea06274890)
Disappointed, he described the fight as a “poor reflection” on the city.
“When you think of Jazz Fest now, that’s what they’re going to think about, not the 70,000 people coming here for music and entertainment and food and why they were here,” he said, referring to the city’s jazz festival that was ongoing during the assault.
The Downtown Residents Council is holding a special meeting on public safety at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Cincinnati Public Library.
On Monday, Cincinnati Chief of Police Teresa Theetge said in a news conference that about 100 people witnessed the fight, and only one called 911.
“That is unacceptable to not call the police,” she said. “Traffic was horrendous. People saw this. They were fighting in front of traffic. Why didn’t people call us?”
Authorities have charged at least five suspects in the attack, though officials have not released the identities of the suspects or the charges they are facing.
