DC9 case: Prosecutors won't press charges

(By Clarence Williams, Thursday, June 2)- After dropped charges of murder and aggravated assault and a six-month investigation, federal prosecutors announced Thursday that they will not pursue criminal charges in the death of a man outside a D.C. nightclub in October.

U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. said in a statement that there was insufficient evidence to press charges. Prosecutors had interviewed witnesses and medical professionals, reviewed physical evidence and retained a “nationally renowned forensic pathologist” to help in the investigation.

Ali Ahmed Mohammed died Oct. 15 after being found on the ground outside the popular DC9 nightclub. Mohammed, 27, of Silver Spring, had thrown bricks through the window of the club after he was denied admission.

Police said witnesses told them soon after Mohammed’s death that five men, all club employees, chased him, held him down, and punched and kicked him.

But prosecutors and police, who issued a separate statement Thursday, said witness statements did not match forensic evidence to support claims that Mohammed was beaten.

“The Metropolitan Police Department made arrests based on those initial reports and all of the information that was available at the time,” D.C. police spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump said in a statement.

“The medical examiner’s office ruled the case a homicide, and indicated that the restraint of Mr. Mohammed was one of the contributing factors in his death,” Crump said.

“The original accounts by witnesses were not discovered to be mistaken or inaccurate until a more comprehensive review of the medical and forensic evidence was done by detectives and prosecutors.”

In a statement released Thursday through their attorney Billy Martin, Mohammed’s family said they were disappointed that no one will be criminally prosecuted. The statement, however, indicated that the family plans to file a civil suit alleging wrongful death.

Machen said in a telephone interview that he sympathized with Mohammed’s family over their loss.

The family members “were incredibly gracious, incredibly patient. It’s obviously a tragic situation. If something similar happened to you, you would expect justice,” he said.Read more »
Source: washingtonpost

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