Cincinnati, OH — After a viral July 26 mob attack in downtown Cincinnati drew national attention, another local resident is coming forward to share his story — one that left him permanently disfigured and deeply disappointed in the city’s response to violent crime.
“They Just Immediately Sucker-Punched Me”
On Sept. 23, 2023, Chris Lewis, then 39, was walking home after a Cincinnati Reds game when he was randomly attacked by three juveniles. The incident occurred late at night, and Lewis said he had no prior interaction with the attackers.
“They just immediately sucker-punched me in the eye,” Lewis told Fox News Digital. “And then, right as soon as that happened, I knew that I was in trouble.”
As Lewis fell to the ground and attempted to explain he was seriously injured, the teens continued to kick him. They stole his phone and earbuds before fleeing into the night.
“I sort of covered my face and sat down on the ground, and I was trying to explain to them that they had just caused a serious injury,” he said. “And they were kicking me the whole time and sort of like ignoring what I was trying to describe.”
Six Surgeries, One Eye Lost
Over the next 18 months, Lewis underwent six surgeries in hopes of saving his vision — all unsuccessful. He ultimately lost his eye and now wears a prosthetic.
“It’s significantly reduced my quality of life,” Lewis said. “I have trouble driving. Confidence is kind of… you know, taking a hit. I view my life as the before and after of this event.”
None of the juveniles involved have been arrested, and Lewis said city resources were “overexerted” at the time, unable to devote the attention his case deserved.
- He reported that detectives told him this kind of violence was common.
- He says the city’s overall crime response has been “ineffective” and politically polarized.
“I wish that our city leaders would take this seriously and work together and identify the root of the problems and then work together to address them,” he added.
Victim’s Family Says Police Didn’t Do Enough
Lewis’ mother, Karen Lewis, echoed her son’s frustrations. She said they posted reward signs and even received the names of the suspects from a student at the same school.
“The detective, in our opinion, did not try hard enough to get the kids who did this to my son,” Karen said. “He said even if they did find them, they would basically be let out almost immediately.”
She also blamed what she called a “soft-on-crime attitude” in the Cincinnati juvenile justice system, saying much of the crime is “kept quiet”, leaving residents unaware of the growing danger.
“The juvenile court system fails the citizens of Cincinnati,” she added. “My son thought he was safe and later found out that a lot of crime is not made public.”
Police Respond: Leads Exhausted
Lt. Jonathan Cunningham, Cincinnati Police Public Information Officer, stated that the case was thoroughly investigated, but leads didn’t pan out.
“If my memory serves me correctly, extensive investigatory hours were put into this case with all leads being exhausted,” Cunningham said.
He noted that a suspect was identified, but the individual had a provable alibi.
Brutal July 26 Mob Attack Reignites Trauma
Lewis said the recent viral beatdown in Cincinnati, which left a woman named Holly with serious brain trauma, reopened emotional wounds. Holly has since released a video update:
“It’s been very, very hard, and I’m still recovering. I still have very bad brain trauma,” she said. “It’s definitely what’s keeping me going, and you have just brought back faith in humanity.”
According to Cincinnati police, four suspects have been arrested, and two more remain at large in the July 26 attack. Authorities say there are six total victims from that incident, and further arrests are expected.
As for Chris Lewis, the emotional and physical scars remain — a stark reminder of what can happen when crime goes unchecked.
What are your thoughts on crime in Cincinnati? Share them in the comments below.
