DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman found probable cause and denied the release of a homicide defendant during a preliminary hearing on Aug. 14.
Charles Mitchell, 46, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 55-year-old Clay Hargrave that occurred on July 26 at Georgina’s Players Lounge, a restaurant and cocktail lounge, on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE. The incident also left one surviving victim with non-life-threatening injuries.
During a preliminary hearing of the evidence, the prosecution called the lead Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who described surveillance video of Mitchell’s entrance the lounge as “aggressive” and said the suspect allegedly started arguing with multiple people. The detective said that another witness heard Mitchell threaten to kill someone. Later in the video, the detective noted that the individual identified as Mitchell left the lounge and Hargrave is seen exiting behind him.
According to the detective, people witnessed a fight between Mitchell and Hargrave which led to Mitchell’s allegedly shooting Hargrave. While the video did not capture the shooting, at the end of the sequence, Hargrave was on the ground and Mitchell walked away.
The detective also said that the clothing in found in Mitchell’s car allegedly matched what the suspect was wearing during the incident.
Defense attorney Terrence Austin claimed Mitchell acted in self-defense. Austin noted that in the video, Mitchell left the establishment and was unaware that Hargrave followed behind him.
Finding probable cause, Judge Edelman noted the video footage in which Mitchell is apparently armed and threatening to shoot people.
Austin subsequently requested Mitchell’s release not his a father present for his family with a full time job.
Hargrave’s family was in court asked Judge Edelman not to release Mitchell under any circumstances. Hargrave’s daughter said Mitchell’s “lack of empathy is a danger to the community.”
Judge Edelman denied Mitchell’s release because Mitchell “walked in armed and shot an unarmed man.”
Parties are slated to reconvene on Nov. 7.
