CINCINNATI (WXIX) - The Cincinnati Police Department says they are investigating a video circulating on the web that appears to show a violent fight in downtown Cincinnati overnight.

Cincinnati police say they are investigating the fight that occurred on Elm and Fourth Streets Friday night.

Different videos of the incident have been shared on social media.

An anonymous witness reported that the situation started several minutes before the fight shown in the videos. The footage captured a man, who, according to the witness, seemed to be intoxicated.

The witness says the man walked away, but returned about 15 minutes later with a group of people who were overheard making racial comments.

The video provided to FOX19 NOW, the witness says, shows people in the group trying to de-escalate the situation before the fight started.

Things escalated and punches were eventually thrown, the witness stated.

The video shows the man in the white shirt hitting the man in the red shirt.

It also shows at least two visible injuries.

The videos caught the attention of numerous local officials.

Ohio State Representative Cecil Thomas said in a statement to news stations that he is “totally embarrassed to see such behavior...”

Thomas goes on to say that, with visitors from around the country, this sort of violence is “unacceptable.”

Chief Theetge calls the violence in the video “nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable.”

Theetge says her team is actively working to investigate the matter and identify every individual involved in causing harm.

She clarifies that “[the incident] was a sudden dispute between individuals following a verbal altercation. It was not connected in any way to the Music Fest.”

Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober calls the violence shown in the video “disgusting,” saying he shares that sentiment with bystanders who chose to record instead of calling 911, diffusing the situation, or rendering aid.

Cincinnati City Council member Mark Jeffreys provided a resolute rebuke of the situation, saying, in part, “This incident is horrible. It is inhumane. This does not and cannot represent who we are as a city.”

Theetge and CPD ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.

This is a developing situation, and the FOX19 NOW team is still working to gather information.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

Copyright 2025 WXIX. All rights reserved.