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Arrest warrant issued in Knockout Game attack

Posted at 5:07 PM, Mar 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-18 16:49:14-04

CINCINNATI –  Police said they issued an arrest warrant Friday in the Knockout Game-style attack on a restaurant owner's son last week.

The warrant accuses Chris Kincaid, 31, of felonious assault against Max Diebold in Over-the-Rhine on March 12. Kincaid is at large.

Jon V. Diebold, owner and chef of Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant, said his son was punched in the face without warning in broad daylight Saturday morning in front of the Kroger store on Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine.

"There was no way to avoid this. There was no way to see it coming," the elder Diebold said.

Max Diebold was hospitalized for four days with a broken nose, multiple facial fractures and a concussion, his father said. He had to have hours of surgery.

Max was walking to work with a friend when he was attacked about 8 a.m. in front of multiple witnesses, Diebold said.

"It was immediate – [the attacker] just hit him and was gone," Diebold said.

Police Lt. Steve Saunders said random attacks don't happen often, but people need to be cautious.

"It all comes down to being mindful of your surroundings," Saunders said.

Regardless of what happened to his son, Diebold said he still thinks Over-the-Rhine is safe.  He just wants to warn people that something like this could happen to anybody.

"It's been a very emotional, long four days," he said.