Two 'Stop the Violence' Organizers Arrested in Washington Beating

Two “Stop the Violence” organizers will face charges of assault, conspiracy, simple assault, and disorderly conduct for allegedly beating one of their colleagues until he fell unconscious.

Nikole Ardeno and Emanuel Velez, both 30, reportedly punched and kicked their former roommate in the street, accusing him of theft. The pair were arrested moments later, Ardeno was still wearing the same

Ardeno had been at a protest of recent shootings just before, according to WHLT. She was still wearing a t-shirt that said “Stop the Violence,” the Observer-Reporter said.

The victim, Joshua Magraff, also is a community organizer with the same anti-violence group.

Police believe Ardeno and Velez attacked Magraff on Tuesday because he had gone to the apartment they had shared to collect his belongings. Ardeno and Velez had come to a police station about 20 minutes earlier, accusing Magraff of burglary, but police said he appeared to be taking only items that belonged to him as he moved out, Luppino said.

Magraff was still unconscious and in critical condition Wednesday at UPMC Mercy hospital in Pittsburgh, Luppino said.

Velez bonded out of Washington County Correctional Facility Wednesday, but Ardeno remained jailed as of Thursday, according to the New York Daily News.