Cincinnati viral beating suspect hit with federal gun charge

CINCINNATI A previous felon and suspect in the viral downtown Cincinnati beating that reverberated nationwide is facing a new federal gun charge A federal grand jury this day indicted Montanez Merriweather with illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio According to the indictment on July Merriweather illegally possessed a mm pistol As a previously convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms the release from the attorney's office reported SEVENTH CINCINNATI ASSAULT SUSPECT ARRESTED OVER VIOLENT BEATDOWNMerriweather is accused of partaking in the early morning July beating that injured six It occurred outside a popular nightclub in Cincinnati's downtown business district Stemming from that case he was charged with three counts of alleged felonious assault three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting He is in the present in state custody If convicted on the gun charge Merriweather faces up to years in prison There is no place for violence in our communities mentioned U S Attorney Dominick S Gerace II Those who commit violent acts can expect to be scrutinized and they will be held accountable for violations of federal criminal law TH CINCINNATI BRAWL SUSPECT S MUGSHOT DISCLOSED AFTER FBI ARRESTThe brutal beatdown left an Ohio mother of three with brain trauma The woman identified only as Holly was diagnosed with a severe concussion along with neurological damage and injuries to her vision I'm having someone help take care of me financially mentally and physically Holly narrated Fox News Digital It's very humbling it's very embarrassing to not be able to just be able to hang out by myself I think that's the scary part to not know just how deep the damage is going to be Holly declared she does not know the degree to which she will recover Five other individuals in the beatings also face three counts of alleged felonious assault three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting after the beating each A seventh suspect in the attacks Gregory Wright was charged with alleged aggravated riot and aggravated robbery Hamilton County Jail records show Wright was booked into jail at approximately p m on Monday Fox News' Julia Bonavita contributed to this record