A Peek Into the DC9 Murder Investigation
Hardcore punk band Agnostic Front played at nightclub DC9 on October 14 as part of their "Victim in Pain Tour." The title of their tour would take on dark irony at about 2:30 a.m., when, following their performance, police found Ali Ahmed Mohammed splayed on the sidewalk just down the street. Five men who work at DC9 are accused of putting him there, after Mohammed threw a brick through one of DC9's windows. Metropolitan Police chief Cathy Lanier called the alleged violence "savage" and "vigilante justice."
But so far, many of the venue's supporters just aren't convinced. DC9 isn't that kind of place. It's not some shady top-40 club where you can get stabbed for spilling a mojito on some guy's Air Dunks, or where the bouncers are thugs with hourly wages. "I've never heard of them having a fight there," says Skip Coburn of the D.C. Nightlife Association.
Though the soft spoken Coburn might not seem like the type to hang out at a trendy rock club, he does. In order to keep an eye on his association's membership, Coburn venue-hops each weekend. He's visited DC9 plenty and knows the staff well and can't imagine them beating a 27 year-old Ethiopian man (or anyone) to death. As for owner Bill Spieler, who was also arrested for the crime, that's an impossible pill to swallow: "He's a really nice guy. I can't see him beating up anybody."
He's careful to say everyone will have to wait for the facts to emerge, but Coburn repeats some of the rumors that have circulated within the pro-DC9 crowd: That the five men who chased Mohammed—Spieler and employees Darryl Carter, Reginald Phillips, Evan Preller, and Arthur Zaloga—after he shattered the club's window in retaliation for not being let in had merely tackled him. That they let him go after, and Mohammed walked away unharmed. That police arrived on the scene to arrest a conscious and alert Mohammed who somehow, later on, died in police custody. And, most importantly, that a recording of a 911 call placed to police that night would exonerate the defendants. The defendants' attorneys also say their clients are innocent of the charges the police originally made, and that once the facts are out, that'll be clear to everyone.
But a police source involved in the investigation into Mohammed's death says those rumors are likely wishful thoughts on the part of DC9 fans. (The source spoke on condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to talk publicly about the case.) He says it's unlikely that Mohammed died merely of a tackle, and that he would bet that a least one of the five arrested will face murder charges. He also claims, as do recently filed charging documents, that the first officer on the scene began administering CPR to Mohammed.
"That's not something you do if a guy is conscious," the source says. The source believes Mohammed was probably already dead, though, when the officer attempted to save him. Court papers concur, stating that when cops arrived on the scene after responding to "a report for destruction of property," they found Mohammed "lying on the ground, unconscious, and not breathing."
The investigator also debunks the 911 recording exoneration-theory. He says he's listened to the 911 call people are talking about, and it doesn't get the accused off the hook. Far from it.
The source says the 911 call is "pretty long" and was made by one of the suspects who chased down Mohammed. The suspect called the cops from a cellphone to report that someone had smashed DC9's window, and then stayed on the line throughout the footchase. "There's parts they wouldn't like to have heard," is what the cop says of the recording's contents.
The cop says the two witnesses whose accounts appear in police documents are the best kind for authorities: "uninvolved." They have no relationship with either DC9 or the victim. And according to those accounts, the story is simple.
Around the time of Mohammed's demise, one witness who was standing on 9th street saw Mohammed go by with a brick in his hand. Just seconds later, the witness heard the sound of glass breaking and then "saw Mr. Mohammed running north with 5 males chasing him." The witness watched as Preller caught up with Mohammed and tossed him to the ground.
The witness "then watched the defendants Carter, Zaloga, Speiler and Phillips kick and stomp the victim on the head and the body as defendant Preller held the victim down." The witness claims to have watched Spieler "kick Mr. Mohammed several times, then stop when the police approached and attempt to flag down police."
The other witness initially reported a similar story, according to documents, but then changed it. The witness "walked away for a moment during the assault," so couldn't be sure "what role Carter, Spieler and Phillips played in the incident."
The source offers that the five suspects may have been on automatic pilot: "Sometimes people do things and they regret what they do afterward."
Of course, it's no surprise police investigators tell the same story as the charging documents they filed, or that they back up the case MPD first laid out on Friday. And the results of the medical examiner's autopsy—which wasn't able to determine a cause of death immediately last week—could throw the incident down yet another path. But the police account may help explain why Lanier was so quick to condemn the defendants, even though authorities wound up not having enough evidence to charge them with second-degree murder as they initially planned.
For now, the suspects have been charged with aggravated assault and placed in a high-intensity supervision program, which includes electronic monitoring. They will appear in front of Judge Thomas Motley on Nov. 8.
9:43 am
If they drug test these "hot heads" at DC9, they are mostly coke heads with a hot temper. These guys where probably on drugs at the time of the incident. Throw them all in jail and allow a big black gifted man to take care of business with them in prison! Ruthless...
9:54 am
"DC9 isn't that kind of place. It's not some shady top-40 club where you can get stabbed for spilling a mojito on some guy's Air Dunks, or where the bouncers are thugs with hourly wages."
Seriously?
10:02 am
Gee, cops backing up other cops but without actually releasing the tapes and without having enough evidence to actually charge anybody. Sounds familiar eh? I'll wait for the actual evidence because right now all the police are doing is damage control because their chief mouthed off before all the facts were gathered.
10:12 am
this is ridiculous. i wonder who these "witnesses" were. BTW the "cokehead"comment above is ridiculous also. I wonder if the witness had racial reasons for fabricating such a story. i.e. gentrifier related hatred.
10:17 am
AGAIN, I SMELL A COVER-UP!
10:29 am
They simply killers. Put them in jail for life.
10:48 am
These people should be executed for killing that guy. They should be executed in a brutal way just as they did to Ali, one possible explanation for such an attack might be race. RACIST NAZI DEVIL SOB.One way or the other you will pay for your crime fags.
10:54 am
ledroit, aren't the alleged killers come from all sort of racial background? I doubt it is racial and the witnesses account seems legit to me.
When things heat up nice people are also capable of doing pretty bad things so don’t be too surprised DC9 friends, after all I am sure they didn’t mean to kill the guy, they were just stomping on him to show their frustration by what he did so no matter how nice these people are, they are 5 of them doing bodily harm to him that unfortunately for all caused his death. They should split them up and start interviewing them separately and soon enough the truth will come out.
11:41 am
Certainly there is no parity in terms of the outcome, but let's not forget the dead guy threw a BRICK through a PLATE GLASS window. I wear the scars of plate glass on my head, do not doubt it is very dangerous. The dc9 guys knew this and I'm sure were very angry when they caught him running away from the Scene of a CRIME. Let's wait for the facts and try not to misplace any empathy. No innocents here, not a one. The human body is far more frail than most realize, Accidents happen. For the less than tasteless individual who suggest rape would be some sort of fair punishment for the dc9 guys all I can say is maybe you or someone you care about should spend some time locked up, then be flip with your hack prison rape jokes.
11:52 am
And "american justice" is a typical nigga - blaming everything on teh gayz to hide the fact that his own culture is a mess of pathology.
The more this city gentrifies these niggaz away into the wilds of PG, preferably beyond the reach of Metro, the better.
12:22 pm
Steven, it is not so difficult to see how the club workers could do what they did to him, I mean, Listen to you. It is possible.
12:36 pm
Let's just thank god that this wasn't a white patron being killed at a bar frequented and owned by blacks. Lord knows the entitled minority in this town would be screaming for justice.
12:56 pm
Yeah Rich, people totally aren't racially incensed here. Did you even read the other comments?
1:21 pm
Ok. I have a problem with American Justice and Steven Wright. Firt of all, how helpful is it to contribute that bit of vitriol into this discussion? Race had nothing to do with it, and calling them "fags" doesn't help, either. And Mr. Wright, are you serious? Into the wilds of PG??? Instead of putting all folks who YOU deem unacceptable to live in your town, why don't you try to figure out how you could contribute to them being good citizens? I'm even scared to ask if you are Black or not... either answer you give will make me angry.
1:37 pm
"But so far, many of the venue's supporters just aren't convinced. DC9 isn't that kind of place. It's not some shady top-40 club where you can get stabbed for spilling a mojito on some guy's Air Dunks, or where the bouncers are thugs with hourly wages."
Really? REALLY? That bullshit just made me sick. Thanks for that healthy dose of racism.
Good job, douchebag.
1:48 pm
They probably do have enough evidence to charge them with at least manslaughter and even second degree murder. They are being careful because this is a popular venue, and the public reacted with support for the vigilantes. Unless the victim had some preexisting condition and died from that alone, there is probable cause to believe that he died from injuries related to the assault. You don't need "guilt beyond a reasonable doubt" to charge the individuals -- only probable cause.
PS: I am an attorney.
1:59 pm
This reminds me so much of the incident that happened awhile back where a guy tried to rob another group of guys and ended up getting his ass handed to him in front of Nellies while people poured drinks on him from the balcony. In that case, the vigilante justice was described in the local print news as something great. Of course, you can't link one incident directly to another but I think there's a general community viewpoint that vigilanty justice is ok in certain cases because crime isn't being handled very well by the authorities.
2:02 pm
So it seems most of the commenters here do not believe in 'innocent until proven guilty.' There is not even a reference to the ALLEGED crime. Most of these comments do nothing but stir up hatred. Lets all wait until the facts are in and the police finish their investigation to make judgment.
2:30 pm
Hateful, racist comments aside -- let's reserve judgement until all the facts are known.
2:42 pm
"And the results of the medical examiner's autopsy—which wasn't able to determine a cause of death immediately last week" - I found this interesting. You would think if someone was stomped to death that would be pretty obvious.
3:18 pm
Dear City Desk,
Please send Mr. R. Smith back to the poorly-funded 6th grade newspaper class from whence he came. It's nice that you are trying to give kids opportunities to contribute to your reporting efforts, but doing so without a good dose of editing leads to posts riddled with generalizations, unfounded assumptions, and stereotypes. To say nothing of the commentariat that this attracts. Please make it easier to support local reporting and for goodness' sake pay attention to what the elementary interns want to post on the site.
Appreciatively yours,
A Reader
3:51 pm
I was at the Agnostic Front show. Everyone there had a great time without incident. The set ended at 11:00pm the night before the alleged crime. Why Rend Smith is using a silly foreshadowing technique, inaccurate use of "irony" and chronological deception to bring the band into this "peek" is beyond me.
4:31 pm
"It's not some shady top-40 club where you can get stabbed for spilling a mojito on some guy's Air Dunks"
Can you tell me where there *is* a shady club full of mojito drinking, dunk sporting thugs rocking out to Taylor Swift, Rhianna, Bruno Mars, The Glee Cast, Lil Wayne and Drake? Cuz that would be funking awesome.
4:40 pm
Rend Smith's piece is good work. You can take exception with the irony intro (I don't, the name of the band is interesting in light of events), and heavy use of anon sources ... but with that said, the story adds detail and tells of the competing narratives that are emerging.
Most bloggers just (and commenters) just cough up their own stew, but Smith did some work here and it's appreciated.
5:20 pm
I don't have a problem with this story. The police don't want to talk on the record, eye witnesses don't want to either. Smith paints a picture. It is a decent article. IMHO.
6:18 pm
It seems that there are a bunch of employee relatives and dc club patrons trying to COVER UP the MURDER of an innocent young man 27 years old. They think because they have money and power that they can kill anyone and get away with it. YES he did throw a rock into the window and break it, does that JUSTIFY him to LOSE HIS LIFE by being BRUTALY BEATEN BY 5 THUGS? NO! If they were professional they would have restrained him until the police arrived then they can prosecute him. Instead they chose to take justice into their own hands, RIGHTLY classified by the DC Metropolitan Police chief Cathy Lanier as "VIGILANTE JUSTICE". And for the record, she said it was IN HER OWN OPINION!
I can't wait to see these people LOCKED UP and ROTTING IN PRISON. I am sure if it was a white man beaten by 5 blacks, they would all be serving life sentences.
We will wait to see if justice is served because at the end of the day: a young man lost his life.
6:57 pm
>>They think because they have money and power<>an innocent young man 27 years old<> I am sure if it was a white man beaten by 5 blacks, they would all be serving life sentences.<<
Leaving aside the fact that "race" is a genetically invalid artificial construct; the accused fit several "pigeon-holes":
-"White"
-"Black"
-"Dread boy"
-LGBT/queer/homosexual
And, finally, the MPD "charging document" makes reference to the responding officer observing "dried blood" on the deceased face... Depending upon weather and other conditions it takes 30-60 minutes for h.s. sapiens blood to "dry"
Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici
7:08 pm
1) "an innocent young man 27 years old. "
"Innocent"?
Actually, the deceased committed several violations of the District of Columbia Code before and during this incident...
2) "They think because they have money and power"
What poetry are you smoking?
We're talking Proletarians, working-class and middle-class kidsas well as "starving"-artists tryin' to "make their bones" on restaraunt-wages (US$2.01/hr) + tips
3) "BRUTALY BEATEN"
MPD's own "charging document", citing OCME states "[the coroner] did not observe external injuries sufficient to allow it to opine on the cause of death"
QED: that tends to argue against COD being "beaten to death" or being "brutally beaten"
MPD introduced the words "beaten", "savage" and "vigilante" and people as well as several media outlets have just run with it...
Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici
7:08 pm
If I was sitting inside a club and a brick came flying through hurling shards of glass to my eyes I don't know what I'd do. It's wrong if they killed him but I'm gonna hold out on accusing anybody of racism until I hear more info. What a crazy, sad, scary situation!
7:27 pm
"Actually, the deceased committed several violations of the District of Columbia Code before and during this incident..."
So does that justify MURDERING him by beating? He was outnumbered 5 to 1. Since when did DC have a law justifying VIGILANTE JUSTICE in response to property damage?
{{{Around the time of Mohammed's demise, one witness who was standing on 9th street saw Mohammed go by with a brick in his hand. Just seconds later, the witness heard the sound of glass breaking and then "saw Mr. Mohammed running north with 5 males chasing him." The witness watched as Preller caught up with Mohammed and tossed him to the ground.
The witness "then watched the defendants Carter, Zaloga, Speiler and Phillips kick and stomp the victim on the head and the body as defendant Preller held the victim down." The witness claims to have watched Spieler "kick Mr. Mohammed several times, then stop when the police approached and attempt to flag down police." }}}
Witness says it all, and best of all, he was a neutral observer! Spieler thought he was slick.
What is extremly perplexing about this case is how do the killers pronounce their "innocence" They even jumped at the declaration of "innocent" too early.
How in the world do u expect to that this kid didn't die from being BRUTALY BEATEN and STOMPED on from the 5 vigilantes?
7:39 pm
I was not there, but my two cents is that they killed him. Sad to hear he was beaten and they should pay for their crime.
looks like the messages noting we should wait and see were left by friends of DC9. not unbiased people.
8:18 pm
Neutral Observer sounds like he needs to dial back the PCP.
This is a really sad and disturbing story. I've been going to DC9 for years, and all those folks are nice people. It's hard to imagine them doing anything like this.
On the other hand, someone is dead. Over many years of bargoing, I've occasionally seen bar staff at various places treat roughly a patron who crossed the line. In many cases, these people deserved the treatment they got (except for a girl I saw get thrown down a flight of stairs by a doorman at a long-gone U Street bar after she angered the bartender's girlfriend, she did not deserve that). But a rough reaction to ill-behaved patrons is part of bar culture. I've always wondered how bars get away with that, since the minute you lay a hand on someone, it's assault. I figured it was just winked at as long as nothing bad happens.
I am certain they didn't intend to kill someone, but if the eyewitnesses are correct that they laid into this guy, even if he had a heart condition or something, if he died at their hands then is is their fault. I wish they had just chosen to dial 911 and focused on filing an insurance claim instead of chasing the guy at all. But if they assaulted him and caused his death, even if indirectly, they need to receive justice for that.
8:57 pm
I don't know why you are getting so mad at me, I stated the facts:
Ali threw rock into the DC9 window
5 DC9 employees chased after him and got carried away beating and stomping on him
Police arrive at the scene to find an unconscious Ali Mohammed lying on the ground not breathing.
Witnesses say they saw 4 of the men beat Ali while one held him down.
Ali Mohammed died of his injuries sustained by the beating.
Anything else you try to add or inject in the story is not gonna work. your little propaganda campaign (friends of DC9) isnt gonna work. This is America, not Communist China or North Korea, you can't cover up murder.
8:59 pm
Anything other than a second degree murder or manslaughter charge would be a travesty of justice in this case. It's really an open and shut case.
10:41 pm
I have been a dc resident for 30 yrs and I will be the first to say that the actions of the dc courts is racially bias when it comes to this issue. There is no way that 5 black guys would have gotten murder charges reduced to agrivated assault in a case like this. A young woman was just jailed for a dui fatality off u street, so how does these guys get off like this? I have seen several black clubs get closed down do to violence that occured outside the establishment. Here u have a co-owner and employees beat someone to death. Wow! Are u people serious? These guys should have been held with no bond! They took the law into their own hands point blank. This case is racially bias because 5 black guys would be looking at capital punishment for beating a white guy to death. The report says they chased him, so isn't that enough to say he was alive before hand? You people are UNBELEIVABLE!!!
10:56 pm
First of all in what part of the world is it acceptable to throw a brick through a glass window? I would not trust what witnesses are saying based on the fact that this took place in little Ethiopia and none of the DC9 employees accused are from Ethiopia. My guess is that this man mouthed off to DC police and he gat a baton over the head.
11:06 pm
LET ME SHINE SOME LIGHT ON THIS SHIT FOR ALL YOU BAMMA ASS DC9 SUPPORTERS.
SEE DEEP DOWN ALL YOU MUTHA FUCKAS KNOW THEY KILLED THE BROTHER FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN HE WAS BLACK. THEY USED THE BRICK THROWING AS AN EXCUSE TO JUSTIFY WHAT THEY ALWAYS WANTED TO DO AND WHAT THEY DID. THEY DIDN’T JUMP HIM IN OR AT THE DUMP CALLED DC9. SEE THE PROBLEM THE BENETTON CREW WILL FACE IS THEY CHASED HIM DOWN TO BEAT HIM UP. THAT MEANS THEY HAD MALICIOUS INTENT OR THEY WOULD HAVE SIMPLY CALLED THE POLICE AND GAVE A DESCRIPTION OF PERP.
BUT LET ME BREAK THIS SHIT ALL THE WAY DOWN FOR SOME OF YOU RETARDED FOLKS THAT PROB LIVE IN VA OR UPPER MOCO WHO WANTS TO CLAIM THAT SOME TOKEN NIGGA WAS WITH THEM SO RACE CANT POSSIBLY BE A FACTOR:
WHITEBOYS-WELL THAT IS OBVIOUS ESPECIALLY AMONG ROCK CROWD.
GAY-ALL THOSE COCKSUCKERS ARE ON GET BACK BECAUSE MAJORITY OF BLACKS DON’T SIDE WITH THEIR LIL MARRIAGE AND FREEDOM SITUATION.
DREAD BOY-NUFF SAID.
BLACK-UNCLE RUCKUS SYNDROME! JUST BECAUSE A NIGGA LOOKS BLACK DOESN’T MEAN THAT HE IS.
JUST BECAUSE THE M.E. HASN’T DETERMINED ONE BLOW OR THE BODY SLAM TO THE GROUND WAS PRIMARY CAUSE OF DEATH DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO HIS DEATH. SO CONTINUE TO TRY TO CONVINCE YOURSELVES THAT THE LIES AND INNUENDO YOU DUMB ASSES PERPETRATE HERE AND ELSEWHERE WILL SOME HOW BECOME BELIEVABLE.
WHAT THE OWNER OF DC9 AND THE REST OF THEM SORRY ASSWIPES SHOULD BE DOING IS CONTRIBUTING TO HIS FUNERAL COSTS AND/OR SET UP A SCHOLORSHIP FUND IN HIS NAME. ALL THOSE WHO WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF FUCKING PUNKS WHO WASN’T MAN ENOUGH TO SCRAP WITH THE DUDE ONE ON ONE..
CHRIS ROCK WAS RIGHT! FUCK AL-QAEDA BLACKS NEED TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR AL CRACKER!
11:24 pm
hey noodlez: two of the suspects were of color. Are you an idiot? read the article before you post dumb shit
12:13 am
Do you think if the victim was white and the killers were black would the DC courts allow them to go free AND lower charges from murder to aggrivated assult?
12:15 am
Tuesday October 19, 2009
Show your support for the innocent victim Ali Muhammed (brutally beaten by DC9 club thugs) his family will have a candle light vigil in front of DC9 at 6pm.
12:16 am
All this article consists of is another cop backing up the official police report, off the record. What a shocker. Personally, I'm waiting for security cam footage. Until then I don't know who to believe. Hey reporter - how about checking out the scene and figuring out who has the footage? According to this map there's a camera at 9th & T - that's one block away and should have recorded the whole thing: http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,A,1238,Q,560780.asp
2:06 am
They are already dialing back the charges, and the cops story isn't holding together.
It's a little premature to be convicting them yet- even in the court of public opinion.
And #40- Ali Muhammed might be a victim, but he is far from innocent. He should have known throwing a brick threw a plate-glass window at a nightclub might have bad consequences for himself. Don't overplay the "victim" card just yet.
8:20 am
I am not sure about the racial motivators.
I will concur on the coke head, hot head sentiment. I too have heard such talk of these guys. They should drug test them, although, the coke will have left the system by now.
I cant wait to hear what the medical examiner says.
I think noodlez is right about the charges, had this been in southest, there is no way the charges would have been lessened
8:24 am
It's all very unclear. I've read that he Ali was transported in a cruiser to Howard where he was pronounced dead. When did MPD start taking people to the hospital in cruisers and not an ambulance? Not enough info...
8:56 am
Free the DC5. Make them police and allow them to patrol U Street. We'll have a safe entertainment corridor in no time.
9:48 am
At first I was going to comment on the lack of facts available to the public, and the conflicting witness testimony, and the coroners reports and the lingering questions about Ali's treatment once he entered police custody...
But then I saw Noodlez's post and, what can I say, he convinced me. I mean, he typed it in all caps. How can you ignore that?
9:51 am
"They should drug test them, although, the coke will have left the system by now."
Individuals are piss-tested as soon as they hit CCB (Central Cell Block)...
10:49 am
Let's see a guy throws a brick through the club window. 5 guys chase him down and stomp his head in.. oh and there are witnesses.... Nov.8th... these dudes are going to pay the price for their actions. sometimes good people do really stupid things and this is one of those cases. it's just aggrevating to here all the people sticking with them.. because "their friends, these guys" would never do anything like this. Well,,,,,, you are friends with murderers... i will tell you this... one of the five is going to fold and tell the truth to save his own @ss... someone or a few of them will go to jail... hey, maybe one or two of them will commit suicide from the guilt... they know what they've done... for shame DC9, for shame.
11:29 am
If Mohammad was dead or near death, why weren't Dc Fire/ ambulance available to assist the police? It looks suspicious that the police would transport an allegedly dying/dead man to the hospital. How would you even get a dying/dead man into a police cruiser? Or did I hear this part incorrectly and Mohammad was in fact transported by ambulance to the hospital? any info on this point would be appreicated-- aren't DC Fire/ambulance records public?
12:33 pm
"did I hear this part incorrectly and Mohammad was in fact transported by ambulance to the hospital? any info on this point would be appreicated-- aren't DC Fire/ambulance records public?"
That's part of the problem:
One version has the deceased alive and conscious when MPD arrived, another unconscious and not breathing, yet another transported the three blocks to Howard by DCFEMS, another transported by MPD, etc etc...
Not to mention that Howard University Hospital and HUH-ER are known for killing people/letting them die--espec. if they think they are "junk people".
Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici
12:40 pm
All right everyone here are the facts, Ali thru a object and broke a window at DC9 and then fled the scene. The employees of DC9 should of called the police. In this day and age I am sure in hell sure that one of the DC9 employees had a cell phone on them. They could of followed him and relayed Ali's location to the police 911 operator. There was no need to get involved beyond that point.
As far as the charges go it's a fine line here between first and second degree murder. First degree murder you have to prove a premedited intent to murder Ali which is anyones guess at this point. If one or more of the DC9 employees said let's kill this guy then it's falls under first degree murder. I would say until they can prove intent, then you would have to go to second degree murder, but defiantly not manslaughter.
12:42 pm
Here are the charging documents: http://www.scribd.com/doc/39486686/DC9ChargingDocumen
The way the charges have been reduced and the accused being released under surveillance considering the terrible nature of what they might have done... that IS really quite ridiculous.
The fact that a broken window lead to a death is terribly tragic.
A lot went wrong this night. He should have known better. They should have known WAY better considering their job is dealing with all kinds of belligerent or irrational or angry folks at the door. Minimize damage not maximize it!
This article has the image of the accused. It is neither an all white or all black situation, but diversity of race does not equate to more or less guilt when it comes to anger/rage/mob mentality.
http://www.tbd.com/articles/2010/10/man-found-dead-in-northwest-21726.html
Really too bad!
1:20 pm
Code Name "V" if there are two different reports regarding how he was transported, seems like the police are covering up something.
To those that are bemoaning the fact that if the victim were white then the situation would be different, just what alternative are you suggesting? That we just assume that the police version is correct?
We need to wait and hear more info before charging that the DC9 perps are not facing as severe consequences because the victim is black rather than white. It's even possible that the Chief overreacted because the victim is black. Maybe it was a good move on her part to show a strong arm in order to avoid a riot. After all, look all these posts decrying the drop in the charge from murder to assault-- you can bet that the response would have been explosive if the Chief had instead started with "mere" assault.
1:58 pm
It makes me sick to my stomach to see how pitiful people can be. Taking away a human life for something as mediocre as a brick being thrown to a window?! Really??? I pray that these pathetic excuse for men get the punishment they deserve and suffer the great ordeal of pain that the victim family is going through. You best believe the Ethiopian community will make NOISE till we get the justice Ali and his family deserves. Count on it
1:59 pm
1)"Code Name "V" if there are two different reports regarding how he was transported, seems like the police are covering up something."
If you mean "official" reports--nope. I don't remember if the MPD documents refer to transportation modality/agency or not.
What I said, and what a lot of people are responding to, is: there are multiple versions floating around in the streets and on the 'Web...
2) "you can bet that the response would have been explosive if the Chief had instead started with "mere" assault."
As regards your point: possibly, I don't see that in that community "in-the-moment". However, as time passes with nothing truly definitive from The State the vitriol etc seem to be spiraling upwards spurred on by rumors and alleged intent (remember, a riot is rarely about the actual incident at hand)
2:02 pm
"you can bet that the response would have been explosive if the Chief had instead started with "mere" assault."
I forgot to mention "cops" (Local LEOs) tend to "over-charge"; there are various reason, legitimate and not, for doing so--prosecutors and courts then make "corrections" as necessary.
2:11 pm
"That police arrived on the scene to arrest a conscious and alert Mohammed who somehow, later on, died in police custody."
Wow BULLSHIT would be a understatement…
Either you’re in denial or you’re just a dumb imbecile to say that these men are innocent.
2:24 pm
There will be a candle light vigil for Ali Mohammed tonight at 6 PM at the intersection of 9th and U streets.
2:25 pm
'Alen', your right something smells big time here for sure and right on the other issue as well!
2:36 pm
Funny, they left out the part about the dude having dried blood on his face......Seems to me, if the police were there in minutes, the blood would still be wet..... then again, he was in POLICE CUSTODY for 45 mins before he was taken to hospital. And he didn't throw one brick, he threw two bricks-----
4:53 pm
Any way he died. No one can bring him back. How peoples are rude. killed the innocent 4 a piece of GLASS. What a very sad and unbelievable story. May God save his soul in heaven. My prayers goes out to the family.
12:13 am
Get judge judy! we need to put these criminals in jail for life for murder. 5 killers are walking the streets of DC...
2:08 am
Killing is not the answer for damaged glass!!! They must be locked up for life. Those of you a fan of DC9 next time you will end up like Ali, Who knows. No matter what they don't have the right to take someones life for free!!! They have to pay the price of thier uncontrolled unger!
7:05 am
why do they keep telling us the owners are 'nice folks'. Hitler they say was a very nice personality until he started killing hordes of jews.
10:45 am
The other witness initially reported a similar story, according to documents, but then changed it. The witness "walked away for a moment during the assault," so couldn't be sure "what role Carter, Spieler and Phillips played in the incident."
1.That police arrived on the scene to arrest a conscious and alert Mohammed who somehow, later on, died in police custody.
2."a report for destruction of property," they found Mohammed "lying on the ground, unconscious, and not breathing."
WHICH IS IT?
11:26 am
Good shit @ NOODLEZ as usual!
This right here is a byproduct of that bitch ass Fenty administration! He enabled and empowered these sukka ass crakkaz into believing they are HIP, cool and can kill a nigga if confronted, hence the po po's new style of policing, the gun laws, which i'm in favor of, but confused as to where was this shit back n da day and U street being stripped and whitewashed business and consumer wise!!!
JUSTICE better be served!
5:16 pm
"...LET ME SHINE SOME LIGHT ON THIS SHIT FOR ALL YOU BAMMA ASS DC9 SUPPORTERS..."
Let me shine some light on this shit: you're a white guy pretending to be a black hoodlum. And nobody's buying what you're selling.
5:18 pm
"...why do they keep telling us the owners are 'nice folks'..."
Because the people that DC9, particularly Joe Englert, are not your typical scumbag club owners. Englert's a successful business and family man.
5:21 pm
Let's make this clear: your little pal Ali threw not one but TWO bricks at the club. The first that shattered the glass and the second at the people cleaning up the glass.
6:03 pm
Everyone really needs to stop with all the speculation and debating. The police have jumped the gun and started making accusations without any actual evidence. The physician who attempted to save the deceased didn't see any obvious signs of trauma and had no idea why this man died. For that same reason the medical examiner is struggling to even determine a cause of death. I would urge everyone to stop speculating as to which murder charges will be filed until the medical examiner announces their findings. At this point it seems highly unlikely the medical examiner will rule this as a homicide. We will probably get the answer from toxicology which will take a few weeks.
9:52 pm
"Let's make this clear: your little pal Ali threw not one but TWO bricks at the club. The first that shattered the glass and the second at the people cleaning up the glass."
Try again, DC9 has 2 windows, he threw a brick into each window shattering them. but go ahead and keep spreading lies and fairy tails in order to defend your killer friends (dc9killers)
10:17 am
"Try again, DC9 has 2 windows, he threw a brick into each window shattering them. but go ahead and keep spreading lies and fairy tails in order to defend your killer friends (dc9killers)"
The TBD interview of someone involved in the incident made it very clear that, whilst they were cleaning up glass from the first shattering, he returned to throw another brick. Perhaps he intended to throw it at the second window, but one way or another it is abundantly clear Ali was most certainly capable of being a violent person (despite his father's statements otherwise).
10:59 am
I CANT BELIEVE ALL YOU PEOPLE HERE...I PERSONALLY KNEW ALI AND HE WAS A VERY NICE GUY..
11:04 am
WHAT IF HE THREW A BRICK (OR TWO)..WHY CANT YOU JUST CALL THE COPS INSTEAD OF CHASING HIM DOWN A STREET AND BEATING HIM TO DEATH...I HOPE THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT SOON AND THESE PEOPLE GET WHAT THEY DESERVE..HE WAS A GOOD PERSON AND A GOOD FRIEND..I PERSONALLY MISS HIM SO AND LETS ALL BE CAREFUL OF THE DECISIONS WE MAKE CUZ 2MRW IS NOT GUARANTEED
4:16 pm
"The TBD interview of someone involved in the incident made it very clear that, whilst they were cleaning up glass from the first shattering, he returned to throw another brick."
That's a complete LIE and you know it, he threw two bricks into the window, he didn't aim at anyone, don't you think if he wanted to hit someone with the brick he would have went inside the club and threw it? (oops i forgot you have no common sense)
and while you're dumb ass is attacking the victim for, of all things, "being violent" your savage friends SAVAGELY BEAT HIM TO DEATH! and they will get murder charges soon. just watch!
8:21 am
All of you people act like you were there... Friends of DC9 or friends of Ali, it doesn't matter. Just cut the shit. Speculating won't get you anywhere but into an argument with some dumbass on the Internet. After reading all of these comments it looks like there are more than a few ready to oblige.
10:04 am
One witness told police that the men chased Mohammed and that Preller caught him and threw him to the ground, according to the affidavit. The witness watched Carter, Zaloga, Spieler and Phillips "stomp the victim on the head and the body" as Preller held him down, the document states. Spieler kicked Mohammed several times, the witness told police, according to the affidavit.
A second witness gave police a similar account. The witness saw Mohammed walking with what appeared to be two bricks. The witness asked Mohammed what he was going to do with the bricks, and Mohammed responded: "[Expletive] those people up." The witness said that Preller caught and threw Mohammed down after the chase and that Mohammed was beaten.
12:06 pm
what happened to the 27 year old is terrible BUT he shouldn't have thrown a brick through the window; sounds like a true punk that didn't deserve to die, but that lived as a PUNK and criminal.
11:24 pm
DUE TO THE INFLUENCE OF LOCAL POLITICIANS DC9 HAS CONNECTIONS WITH, THE DC POLICE AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REDUCED THE CHARGES FROM MURDER TO ASSAULT WITH IN HOURS OF THE INCIDENT.
DC9 WILL be SHUT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11:40 am
Hey all you stringem up hipsters yea ali is dead
the police have the 911 call they have the body they have witnesses but still they reduced the charges.WTF
Wait for the trial and find out what really happend before you go writting a story. Its all fiction till the trial. If they did it the attorneys for DC suck. If they didn´t then is´nt that a bitch.
It all started with a stupid act and ended tragically.
oh and DC9 don´t got no connections or they would be open.
6:22 pm
What I do not understand is how anyone WITHOUT brain damage could argue FOR the goons who murdered this poor,unfortunate drunk!
Anyone who “reasons” that an acceptable punishment for property damage is “immediate death by stomp down”, is racist trash who does not “get” the law of cause and effect.
Ali was alive before fleeing from these murderers and, soon after(having had a great deal of his life and blood stomped out of him—and having had eyewitnesses testifying to this FACT), he was dead!! Voila! What is there to ponder or discuss or view as inconclusive???
That coroner is clearly incompetent (and, probably, some other unacceptable things as well—the “ahole” should be charged with giving a false statement for one…) if he/she/it cannot clearly see bruises on Ali’s dead body resulting from having had the stuffing kicked out of him!!!
I pray that his murderers be sent to the electric chair ASAFP!!! If that is too much to ask, then having them serve life in the Federal Pen as someone’s beyotch will do.
8:26 pm
Citizen arrest are you fuckin serious. It does not take 5 men to beat and stomp a man to make a citizens arrest. That is bullshit and they know it. They know exactely what they did and it was clearly wrong and even if a brick was thrown in the window it should not have taken 5 men to beat down this one little guy. Seriously, only a freakin coward has to have mob to beat down one man, regardless of what he did and why. This was barbaric and at the end of a long day God know's the truth and those cowardly bastards who did it know the truth and no amount of justification can and will ever excuse this. I am a outraged and hope they all burn in hell.
8:34 pm
Another thing regardless of who tries to cover this up and why. Ultimately justice will prevail. Even if its not today or tomorrow and for the faggot ass punks who beat this man you will get exactely what you deserve.