A woman who was severely beaten following a street brawl in Cincinnati is suffering from a ‘very bad’ brain trauma after the horrific attack.
The woman, known only as Holly, was attacked in the downtown area of Ohio city alongside an unidentified man – and the shocking attack was captured on camera.
In her first remarks since the assault, Holly, who is still severely bruised, said it has left her with trauma to the brain.
In an emotional message, she said: ‘I want to say thank you to everyone for all of the love and support.
‘It’s definitely what’s keeping me going. And you have just brought back faith in humanity.
‘It’s been very, very hard, and I’m still recovering. I still have a very bad brain trauma. God bless you all. Thank you.’
Political commentator Benny Johnson shared the video to his X profile after he organized an online fundraiser for her, which has already raised $168,000.
According to the page Holly is a single working-class mother and is out of work due to her injuries as well as living in an undisclosed location due to threats on her life.
The woman, known only as Holly, was identified by lawmakers in the city earlier this week after the incident last weekend which went viral
In her first remarks since the assault Holly, who is still severely bruised after the attack, said it has left her with brain trauma
It also adds that is suffering from a severe concussion as well as hemorrhaging, with the money raised going to help her medical and legal bills.
Images had emerged earlier this week of her extensive injuries with both sides of her face were extremely bruised following the assault.
Her bottom lip was also cut open slightly, with dark bruises seen around her neck and upper torso.
The update from Holly comes after a fourth person was arrested in connection with the fight.
Dominique Kittle, 37, was taken into police custody on Friday night and was charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot, his bond was set at $150,000.
He appeared in court on Saturday where his lawyer told the judge that suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, according to WLWT.
Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dekyra Vernon, 24, were taken into custody earlier this week after the ordeal, which JD Vance waded in on.
Matthew and Merriweather were initially charged with aggravated riot and assault over the brawl.
Images had emerged earlier this week of her extensive injuries with both sides of her face were extremely bruised following the assault
Jermaine Matthews, left, and Dominique Kittle are both facing charges in connection with the brawl
Dekyra Vernon, 24, (left) and Montianez Merriweather, 34, (right) were also taken into custody in connection with the melee
Matthews, however, was hit with three more charges on Thursday – two felonious assault and one misdemeanor assault charge.
It is alleged that Merriweather was the ‘catalyst’ for what detectives have described as a ‘coordinated attack’.
New footage has also emerged showing the moments leading up to the attack, with one of the men who police said was a victim using racial slurs.
The video, obtained by The Enquirer, shows the unknown individual say: ‘Get him! Get that little n*****.’
Two black men appeared to try and talk to the man to calm him down before the brawl starts. Matthews’ attorney Brandon Fox released the video.
The violent brawl went viral last weekend, catapulting the city into the spotlight
Merriweather’s family have also claimed that he was called racial slurs and spat on in the lead up to the fight.
Fox said: ‘It was not a Black, racist mob attacking people. These were separate fights that were triggered by racial slurs that ultimately poured gasoline on the fire.’
The melee prompted an outcry from Police Chief Theresa Theetge who admonished witnesses for failing to call 911.
‘Nobody called the police,’ she said Monday. ‘Nobody got us there as quickly as we could get there. They waited until they saw it on social media.
‘That is unacceptable to not call the police when you view this. Traffic was horrendous. People saw this, they were fighting in front of traffic.’
