Seven adults are under indictment following the July 4 unrest on Fountain Square and subsequent beating of a man on Government Square. Four juveniles are also facing charges in the incident and police are looking for two suspects in the beating investigation.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters identifies one suspect as Mordecia Black, saying he believes Black is the person responsible for instigating the beating that left Christopher McKnight unconscious.
Black was indicted Tuesday on felonious assault charges. The other suspect is pictured in the red hat but Deters says his identity is unknown.
"This behavior is so unacceptable. We are going to come down on these people as hard as possible," says Deters. "You do not do this to our city and you do not do this to our police officers."
Not A Hate Crime
Deters says there is no evidence that McKnight's beating was a hate crime. He adds that it wouldn't matter anyway because ethnic intimidation is a less serious crime (a misdemeanor) than the felony charges being leveled against the alleged assailants.
Recap Of What Happened
WVXU reported last week: Cincinnati Police Captain Mike Neville says a near capacity crowd was assembled on Fountain Square Saturday night for a hip hop concert. Some people started throwing firecrackers and other items at officers. One officer was struck twice while trying to break things up and make an arrest. Eight officers were patrolling the square. Nearly sixty more were called in to quell what some have called a "melee." Seven people were arrested.
As police were clearing Fountain Square, a man from out of town named Christopher McKnight was involved in an altercation. He was taken to the hospital were he was treated and released. Police say he has a concussion, broken nose and other facial injuries.
Deters says McKnight has no memory of the event. It's unclear if the incident began as a robbery, though McKnight's wallet and phone are missing, according to Deters.
The Charges
The adults are scheduled for arraignment Wednesday. Here's the rundown of charges from the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office:
Seven people were arrested and/or charged with crimes regarding assaults on the two Cincinnati Police officers as well as disorderly conduct. The four adult defendants were indicted today on the following charges:
- Jy Quynn Britten (dob 11/2/93):
2 counts of Aggravated Riot (2917.02 Felony 4)
1 count of Assault on a Police Officer (2903.13 Felony 4)
1 count of Inducing Panic (2917.31 Felony 4)
If convicted of all charges, Britten is facing the possibility of 3 years in prison.
- Gary Sheffield (dob 1/31/86):
1 count of Aggravated Riot (2917.02 Felony 4)
1 count of Inducing Panic (2917.31 Misdemeanor 1)
If convicted of all charges, Sheffield faces the possibility of 1 ½ years in prison.
- Orlando Thomas (dob 10/21/96):
1 count of Aggravated Riot (2917.02 Felony 4)
1 count of Inducing Panic (2917.31 Misdemeanor 1)
If convicted of all charges, Thomas faces the possibility of 1 ½ years in prison.
- Tyre Burke (dob 5-3-97):
1 count of Aggravated Riot (2917.02 Felony 4)
1 count of Inducing Panic (2917.31 Misdemeanor 1)
If convicted of all charges, Burke faces the possibility of 1 ½ years in prison.
- Three juveniles also have charges pending in the Hamilton County Juvenile Court for this matter.
Three adult defendants have been charged with the felonious assault of Christopher McKnight which occurred on Government Square. These defendants were indicted today on the following charges:
Mordecia Black (dob 1/21/87)
Raeshaun Hand (dob 9/7/95)
Steven Montgomery (dob 3/8/97)
All three are charged with:
1 count of Felonious Assault (2903.11 Felony 2)
2 counts of Aggravated Riot (2917.02 Felony 4)
1 count of Inducing Panic (2917.31 Felony 4)
If convicted of all charges, these defendants face in excess of 9 years in prison.
- One juvenile has also been charged with the assault on Mr. McKnight.
